THE Leader of Redditch Borough Council admits he has been left with much to think about after losing three seats – and two key councillors – in the local elections.
Speaking after seeing the defeat of his deputy leader Gemma Monaco in Batchley & Brockhill and his finance portfolio holder Mike Rouse in Church Hill, Coun Matt Dormer said he would spend the weekend ‘making some calls’ to re-shape his administration.
“This was a scenario I’d played through in my mind as we knew thee would be a major battle for these seats,” he said.
However while Labour has put their success down to the controversy over plans to demolish the library building and move it to the Town Hall, Coun Dormer insisted it was national issues that had hit his party’s hopes.
“I think the people of Redditch can see the bigger picture and know that we are the only party that has a good solid and cogent plan for the town.
“Labour campaigned on national issues, rising fuel prices, the cost of living, because they knew that locally that was something we could not control.
“I’m losing two good councillors here. Gemma has worked tirelessly for the people of Batchley & Brockhill and has got us on a much better footing with Persimmon Homes who owe us thousands.
“Mike Rouse will be a very difficult act to follow on finance and we will have to take time to see who has the knowledge and capacity to take it on.”
Labour group leader Coun Andy Fry meanwhile was delighted at his party’s showing on the night, retaining both seats on Greenlands, their seat on Central, his own in Lodge Park, and capturing Batchlery & Brockhill, Church Hill and Abbey ward from the Conservatives.
“I am absolutely thrilled at this result,” he said.
“We’ve got some real experience back with Joe Baker (Batchley & Brockhill) and Bill Hartnett (Church Hill) and a lot of enthusiastic new faces too and together they will make an excellent team.
“I am so excited to be part of it because now the Labour group will be much stronger and we will make sure the Conservative consult with the people of Redditch and we will hold them to account when they fail to do so.
“The tide is turning in Redditch and they can no longer carry on doing as they please without due regard to the residents of this town.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to wonderful group of helpers and volunteers who’ve put their hearts and souls into ensuring this night is a success.
“Labour is all the stronger for their efforts.”
Here are the full results of the local elections in Redditch:
Abbey
Andrew Fieldsend-Roxborough (Lib Dem) – 156
Gabby Hemming (Green) – 105
Sid Khan (Labour) – 870
James Walsh (Conservative) – 827
Astwood Bank & Feckenham
Wanda King (Lab) – 479
Ian Pickles (Lib Dem) – 152
Glen Theobald (Green) – 131
Craig Warhurst (Con) – 946
Batchley & Brockhill
Joe Baker (Lab) – 952 (Lab gain)
Frank Knight (Reform UK) – 103
Gemma Monaco (Con) – 792
Lea Room (Green) – 88
Central
Sharon Harvey (Lab) – 829 (hold)
Victoria Lees (Green) – 161
Ummar Memi (Con) – 468
Church Hill
Bill Hartnett (Lab) – 794 (Lab gain)
Chris Hudson (Green) – 85
Mike Rouse (Con) – 729
Mark Tomes (Lib Dem) – 218
Crabbs Cross
Salman Akbar (Con) – 675 (hold)
Claire Davies (Green) – 245
Monica Fry (Lab) – 410
David Gee (Lib Dem) – 85
Greenlands
Lee Avery-Sherwood (Con) 627
Juma Begum (Lab) 633
Joanna Kane (Lab) 740
Jo Monk (Con) 596
Simon Preston (Lib Dem) 158
Steve Sergent (Green) 177
Headless Cross & Oakenshaw
Juliet Barker Smith (Lab) 864
Jo Beecham (Con) 1,059 (hold)
Alistair Waugh (Green) 214
Lodge Park
Andrew Fry (Lab) – 697 (hold)
Chris Holz (Con) – 361
Rylma White (Green) – 71
Winyates
Jem Bailey (Green) – 121
Ann Gee (Lib Dem) – 125
Anthony Lovell (Con) – 997 (hold)
Ian Woodall (Lab) – 627
The make up of the council is now: Conservatives: 20 councillors, Labour: 7 councillors, Greens: 1 councillor, Independent: 1 councillor
