Hereward Cooke to be new Leader

5.44.01pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Sep 2006

Cllr Hereward Cooke

Cllr Hereward Cooke has been unanimously selected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Norwich City Council. He will take the place of Cllr Ian Couzens, who decision to stand down was announced yesterday.

Cllr Cooke was the only nomination for the post of Leader at a meeting of Liberal Democrat City Councillors last night. He had acted as Deputy to Cllr Couzens from 2002 to 2006, while the Liberal Democrats ran the administration at City Hall. A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said that he had the full confidence of his fellow-Councillors to take the party forward.

Cllr Cooke said that he was delighted to accept the post and to build on the good work of his predecessor. It was also time to refresh the party's objectives in the City, and to build on the new policies being developed at national level. He was glad to welcome the party's commitment to practical green policies and wanted to see them practised in Norwich as soon as possible.

Cllr Cooke has acted as the party's Executive Member for Housing for over 4 years and had helped to develop some successful new ways of working that met the needs of tenants. He was particularly involved in the tenants' consultation that resulted in the positive vote for the retention of Council housing. He serves the ward of Lakenham.

Cllr Brian Watkins

At the same meeting, Cllr Brian Watkins was also selected to act as Deputy Leader.

Cllr Watkins has served as the party's Executive Member for Economic Development, Sports and Culture. He was the second Liberal Councillor in Norwich to be elected in modern times at the age of 25 in 1980. He was Sheriff of Norwich in 1990 and serves the ward of Eaton.