MARSTON Green resident Bob Sleigh was yesterday named as the new Leader of Solihull Council.
Coun Sleigh (pictured) will lead the Conservative-run local authority following the decision by Ken Meeson not to continue in the role.
He assumed his duties at the first Full Council meeting of the new municipal year, which also saw Coun Kate Wild invested as Mayor and councillors appointed to committees and outside bodies.
First elected in Bickenhill ward 14 years ago, Coun Sleigh was seen by many as the obvious choice to succeed Coun Meeson, having spent the past few years as deputy leader.
He has also served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing - a traditionally tricky brief, with responsibility for social services.
In his role as ward councillor he rose to prominence campaigning against controversial housing developments and highlighting the strain that the sudden increase in homes was putting on local villages.
In 2011 he said it was of crucial importance to protect the greenbelt from “predatory” developers.
“Obviously growth is important,” he said at the time, “but it shouldn’t be at the expense of valuable sites in Solihull.”
Coun Sleigh, whose wife Gail is also a councillor, is the latest member from North Solihull to hold the top job (Coun Meeson’s predecessor, Ted Richards, is from Castle Bromwich).
Coun Sleigh (pictured) will lead the Conservative-run local authority following the decision by Ken Meeson not to continue in the role.
He assumed his duties at the first Full Council meeting of the new municipal year, which also saw Coun Kate Wild invested as Mayor and councillors appointed to committees and outside bodies.
First elected in Bickenhill ward 14 years ago, Coun Sleigh was seen by many as the obvious choice to succeed Coun Meeson, having spent the past few years as deputy leader.
He has also served as cabinet member for health and wellbeing - a traditionally tricky brief, with responsibility for social services.
In his role as ward councillor he rose to prominence campaigning against controversial housing developments and highlighting the strain that the sudden increase in homes was putting on local villages.
In 2011 he said it was of crucial importance to protect the greenbelt from “predatory” developers.
“Obviously growth is important,” he said at the time, “but it shouldn’t be at the expense of valuable sites in Solihull.”
Coun Sleigh, whose wife Gail is also a councillor, is the latest member from North Solihull to hold the top job (Coun Meeson’s predecessor, Ted Richards, is from Castle Bromwich).
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