IT IS ALL change at the top of the Bromsgrove Alliance Group of independent councillors after Coun Sue Baxter announced she was stepping down as leader.
Coun Baxter, who has headed up the Wythall Ratepayers and Independent Alliance for nine years, will still continue as district councillor for Drakes Cross and maintain her active roles across the Bromsgrove community, including as member of Wythall Parish Council and as a Chairman of the National Association of Local Councils (Nalc).
She said: “The years of leading independently minded people and working to bring an alternative to Bromsgrove politics has been an honour.
“The progress we’ve made is extraordinary at a time when politics has been at its most active.
“Standing down as leader will allow me to concentrate my efforts on local issues in Wythall and on my role as Chairman on Nalc.”
Hagley West Councillor Steve Colella, who thanked Coun Baxter for her hard work establishing the Bromsgrove Alliance Group as the second largest group on the district council, will take over as leader.
“We’ve now got a fantastic group of councillors from a good spread across the district.
“Our aim as the second largest group is to support the leading group wherever possible but to scrutinise and hold it to account where necessary.
“The aim of the group is to continue to grow and to identify independently-minded people across the district to support us in our quest in making Bromsgrove ‘apolitical ’and forward looking.”
Fellow independent councillor Michael Thompson becomes deputy leaders of the Alliance.
He said: “I am looking forward to working with other councillors in this role.
“Since Coun Douglas and I have joined the group the Alliance has seen increasing representation of the town centre wards.
“I am looking forward to working with Steve, Sue and the Alliance to bring their positive, pro-active and objective brand of politics to residents of the town centre.”
