Lib Dem councillor Maggie Tyrrell has been elected as the new leader of South Gloucestershire Council.
The decision at a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday evening (17th July 2024) followed the resignation of predecessor Claire Young, who stepped down after winning the Thornbury & Yate MP constituency at this month’s general election and is now in Parliament.
Cllr Tyrrell is one of only two members who has served on the council since it was created 29 years ago and, including its predecessor local authorities, has represented residents in Thornbury for 37 years.
The other ever-present South Gloucestershire councillor, Cllr Mike Drew (Lib Dem, Yate North), nominated her as leader at the meeting.
The Lib Dem/Labour administration unanimously voted in favour but opposition Conservatives opposed the appointment, saying that while they wished Cllr Tyrrell well and respected her, they could not support the coalition, which replaced them in running the local authority at last year’s local elections.
Tory group deputy leader Cllr Liz Brennan (Frenchay & Downend) told the meeting:
“On behalf of the Conservative group, I would like to congratulate Cllr Tyrrell on her nomination as leader of the council.”
“Maggie is a longstanding member who has always executed her duties as a councillor with kindness, dignity and a keen sense of fair play.”
“It is not at all a surprise that she would one day find herself selected to lead this council.”
“Despite this, the Conservative group will be voting against the nominee presented to us tonight.”
“To be clear, this is not a judgement on the nominee herself, but on the manner in which the joint administration has conducted itself over the past year.”
“Our vote tonight is intended as a signal to residents all across South Gloucestershire that we are on their side.”
“It says that we are against the wholly unnecessary introduction of car parking charges.”
“It says that we are against the equally unnecessary destruction of the greenbelt, and that we stand with residents who are rightly saying ‘Hands off our green spaces’.”
“It says that we are against doubling the garden waste collection fee, against introducing charges for blue badge applications and against any further policies that see ever greater burdens placed on residents.”
“So while we wish Maggie every success in her role as council leader, we cannot lend our support to an administration that has already, just a year into its life, made South Gloucestershire a slightly worse place to live than it was just 14 months ago.”
Council co-leader Cllr Ian Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said:
“I’m very happy to second Maggie as leader of the council.”
“Having known Maggie for a while we’ve worked together co-chairing [the] Scrutiny [Committee] and I’m sure this will be a seamless transition.”
Cllr Tyrrell said:
“Thank you for the kind words on all sides.”
“I don’t intend to turn this occasion into a political football – it is very tempting to respond but I don’t think this is the moment.”
“It’s an enormous privilege to be elected as leader to this council and I want to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me and electing me to this privileged position.”
“I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Claire Young.”
“She served this council very well and was an excellent leader and was very diligent in all she did, so I thank her sincerely for her service.”
