Cllr Carol Runciman, new Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden and Deputy Leader Ann Reid – who will stay in the role after being unanimously elected at the Group AGM.
Councillor Keith Aspden has been chosen as the new leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on City of York Council.
Keith, who is Councillor for Fulford, will takeover from Cllr Carol Runciman, who is stepping down after two years. She will become Group Chair and take on a new role developing the party’s next generation of candidates and councillors for 2015. The change was unanimously approved at the Council Group’s AGM last week at which Carol formally nominated Keith as leader.
Keith studied at the University of York and became the youngest councillor in the country when he was elected in Fulford in 2003. Since being elected, he has led many campaigns, and has worked with local residents to raise concerns about the proposed Germany Beck development. He has recently launched a ‘Fair Deal for Fulford Campaign’ in opposition to Council cuts to salt bins, litter bins and road repairs in the village. In recent months his role on the national Local Government Association Fire Services Committee has seen him campaigning on the issue of firefighter pensions. After qualifying as a secondary school teacher in York in 2004, Keith now works across a number of North Yorkshire schools.
Cllr Keith Aspden commented:
“Carol has done a fantastic job over the last two years. The Council Group has carved out a distinct identity as the real alternative to Labour and left the ineffective Tories far behind. In her new role she will use all her skill and experience to help spearhead our 2015 election campaigns, where we aim to gain new councillors across the city and help elect Nick Emmerson to Parliament for York Outer.
“I will continue to work tirelessly in Fulford and my priority over the next two years will be to fight for communities and villages which feel let down by the Labour Council. Every day I speak to people who are angry that Labour finds millions to spend on city-centre projects, but cuts funding for basic local services like libraries and road repairs. In the coming weeks, I will also step-up our campaign to save York’s Green Belt, outlining our vision for sustainable housing growth.”
Cllr Carol Runciman commented:
“My commitment to residents in Huntington and New Earswick remains as strong as ever and I plan to seek re-election there in 2015. However, after getting married recently, I want to get a balance in my life where I can spend more time with my husband and my family, along with working on new projects such as helping the next generation of candidates. Stepping down now as leader will allow me to
do this. Keith is a truly outstanding councillor and I was delighted to formally nominate him for Group Leader. I am now looking forward to working with him and our strong local team to help the party achieve success in 2015.”
