Lib Dems react to change in North Somerset’s independent leadership

The independent leader of North Somerset Council, Don Davies, has announced his resignation as leader of the independent group. As a result, North Somerset Council will elect a new leader at its annual meeting on Tuesday.

The independent group have elected Yatton ward councillor Steve Bridger as their new group leader and he will be nominated to replace councillor Don Davies as leader of North Somerset Council at the annual council meeting on Tuesday 10 May.

The council is currently run by a cross-party partnership of 15 independent councillors, 10 Liberal Democrats, 6 Labour and 4 Greens. There are two non-aligned independent councillors and 13 Conservative councillors forming the opposition.

Councillor Mike Bell, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Liberal Democrat group leader said: "The united Liberal Democrat team have provided crucial leadership during the Covid pandemic and beyond. We have provided support to residents and businesses who needed it most. We worked with the NHS, our care sector partners and voluntary organisations to keep people safe. We ensured that residents were always kept well informed by reporting to them regularly.

"Liberal Democrats achieved huge success in the local elections across the country last week, gaining more seats than any other party. When our cross-party administration came to power in 2019 we set out to make North Somerset a more open, fairer and greener place. We are delivering on these commitments and standing up for North Somerset residents. We will continue this focus during the next year in the run-up to the next round of council elections when Liberal Democrats will ask residents to give us an even stronger voice on the next council.

"I would like to thank Don for his hard work and dedication as leader during the past three years. Liberal Democrats look forward to continuing to work as part of our cross-party administration with the independent, Labour and Green groups."