March 31, 2017 8.37 am This story is over 84 months old

North Kesteven District Council elects new leader

North Kesteven District Council has elected Conservative councillor Richard Wright as its new leader. After being elected as Group Leader by party colleagues the previous week, the authority’s full membership voted him in to post on Thursday, March 30. Councillor Wright will now take over from Councillor Marion Brighton OBE, who resigned as leader due…

North Kesteven District Council has elected Conservative councillor Richard Wright as its new leader.

After being elected as Group Leader by party colleagues the previous week, the authority’s full membership voted him in to post on Thursday, March 30.

Councillor Wright will now take over from Councillor Marion Brighton OBE, who resigned as leader due to ill health.

Councillor Marion Brighton OBE officially stepped down on March 9

He will select a Deputy Leader and Executive Board to support him in carrying forward the council’s vision and priorities for service delivery and community enhancements.

Councillor Wright has represented his home ward of Ruskington since May 2007 and served on the council’s Executive Board over the past six years, with special responsibility for enforcement, waste management, licencing, sustainability and related matters.

He has also served on the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee, mapping out the local development framework for North Kesteven, Lincoln and West Lindsey through to 2036.

Aged 50, he has extensive experience working in public service for the RAF, Ministry of Defence, Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Company and is the community as chairman, treasurer and child welfare officer for Ruskington Lions Junior FC.

Coucillor Wright said: “I am extremely proud and honoured to have been elected as leader of the council.

“I look forward to the challenges ahead and in rolling out the council’s established, publically-endorsed and unanimously-approved NK Plan setting out or immediate strategic actions.

“What I want is to continue on the path North Kesteven has already started.”