Cllr Steve Pitt elected as new council leader
A new leader of Portsmouth City Council has been elected, ending 15 years – across two spells – of leadership by Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson.
Fellow Lib Dem Steve Pitt, whotookoverleadershipofthe council’slargestpoliticalgroup last week after Cllr VernonJackson decided to step down, was unanimously voted in at the first meeting of the council since the elections.
Hesaid‘itmeantalot’towin the support of councillors and praised the ‘dedication’ of his predecessor,whowillcontinue as a member of his cabinet.
‘I’ve always been open to membersfromacrossthefloor andIpromisetoalwayslistento concerns wherever possible,’ he said. ‘There will inevitably be areas of disagreement, otherwise we wouldn’t be in different parties but I hope we can move forward respectfully in the knowledge that we’re all heretodeliverthebestpossible outcomes for the people of our amazing city.’
Cllr Pitt who has been a councillor since 2016, barring a one-year absence after losing his Central Southsea seat in 2021 to the now Labour leader Charlotte Gerada, previously ran the Cellars at Eastney and was cabinet member for culture and economic development for the past year.
Following his election as leader of the council, he also confirmed his cabinet for the coming year, which included Cllr Vernon-Jackson being given the transport portfolio which had been held by Lynne Stagg until she decided not to stand for re-election.
He said his cabinet was ‘a strong team and one that will deliver our ambitious plan’.
The full cabinet is: Suzy Horton – deputy leader and cabinet member for education
MatthewWinnington–health and adult social care
Kimberly Barrett – climate
change
Lee Hunt – resources
IanHolder–communitysafety DaveAshmore –environmental services
Gerald Vernon-Jackson – transport
HughMason– planning policy
Darren Sanders – housing
Cllr Vernon-Jackson was first elected to the city council in 2003, becoming leader a year later and holding the role until 2014 when control of the council switched to the Conservatives.
He resumed the position in 2018 when the Lib Dems regained control.