Out with the old, and in with the new
WOKINGHAM’S Conservatives have voted out their leader, who will resign this evening as leader of the council.
She is set to be replaced by Cllr Julian McGhee-Sumner (pictured inset) after he ran for Conservative group leader unopposed.
He told The Wokingham Paper yesterday that he intended to be a unifying candidate who will help the party get back to putting residents’ concerns first. Last Thursday evening, the party’s councillors held a meeting where a vote of confidence was held into Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor’s leadership. Elected to replace Cllr Keith Baker in May last year, her leadership has overseen a rocky patch for the party, including losing David Lee as her deputy after he was voted out in this year’s local elections.
As a result of Mr Lee losing his seat, Cllr McGhee-Sumner became her deputy leader as well as financial member, but he resigned at the end of the summer citing issues with “the direction of travel” that the council was taking.
The finance role remains vacant.
Tonight, Cllr Haitham Taylor will make a statement at the beginning of what is expected to be a dramatic council meeting.
There will also be statements by acting council leader Cllr Pauline Jorgensen and Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Lindsay Ferris.
The Wokingham Paper understands that other councillors may also choose this moment to make personal statements.
In a statement last Friday, Cllr Haitham Taylor said: “On Thursday evening I met with the Wokingham Borough Conservative Group.
“The discussion focused on the direction in which I have been leading the council with my executive team and it was clear that there is a significant difference of opinion.
“On this occasion, it is with regret I did not win the argument and following a vote by the group, they will now be seeking to appoint a new leader, who reflects more closely their views and values.
“At the next full council meeting, I will make a personal statement at the beginning of the meeting, before I formally tender my resignation as the leader of the council.”
It is understood that Cllr McGhee-Sumner led the vote of no confidence.
Under Conservative group rules, because no one else stood against Cllr McGhee-Sumner, he becomes leader automatically, but the council’s constitution means that he has to wait to be nominated as council leader.
This is expected to happen at an extraordinary council meeting which will take place on Friday, December 14.
Speaking to The Wokingham Paper, Cllr McGhee-Sumner expressed his desire to move on.
“I and other members of Wokingham Borough Council have had concerns with the direction of travel the leader was taking.
“This has been coupled with issues caused when [former temporary chief executive] Manjeet Gill starting taking over finance matters, this led to my resignation.
“I had a break and came back and things seemed to be a lot worse. Some members of the executive said I should put my name forward for leader.
“I had conversations with Charlotte, but sadly it had to go to a vote of no confidence. This isn’t what I wanted to do.”
He added: “I do feel a sense of responsibility. I want us to get back to serving the interests of our residents.
“I don’t think we’ve been listening to what our staff want either: we’ve been wrapped up in our internal issues.
“It’s time to get back to serving our residents.”
Cllr Lindsay Ferris, leader of the Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said that he will speak at tonight’s meeting.
“My comments about Charlotte will be quite positive. We’ve got on well and done a few things jointly.
“But my view is that this is the Conservatives fourth leader in three years: David Lee to Keith Baker to Charlotte and now to Julian. They can keep changing the captain but the Titanic is still carrying on. They are very, very divided and very, very vicious.”
He added: “I don’t know Julian very well, but he’s got a major job. How will he have the time to do it and be council leader? It’s a full-time job.
“But I’m prepared to work with whoever is in charge if it’s in the interests of the residents. At this council meeting there will be a motion on sprinklers which is an example of us working closely together.”