As previously reported, during the meeting held on Thursday, May 18, the leader of the Basingstoke Independent Forum, Cllr Paul Harvey, was appointed as the council’s new leader.
This comes after the elections on Thursday, May 4, resulted in no party having a voting majority.
READ MORE: BDBC: Cllr Paul Harvey appointed to lead the council
At the council meeting, a motion to remove Cllr Simon Minas-Bound as the leader and replace him with Cllr Harvey was successful.
Talking to the Gazette after the meeting Cllr Minas-Bound said: “Although I’m not sure it is clear what the rainbow coalition stands for. It is important the new administration remember they have a duty to deliver for all our citizens. The majority of them didn’t vote for them.”
After the meeting, Cllr Minas-Bound sent a handwritten note to the new leader.
In the note, he asked Cllr Harvey to implement food waste, support the green team, protect the borough’s landscape and rivers and not block any future investments in a new hospital, university campus and holiday resort.
Cllr Simon-Minas Bound continued: “After the council meeting I sent the new leader an important note to remind him that he has taken control of a council with strong finances. The highest spend in Hampshire with the lowest council tax.
“There is a fully formed and funded council plan to improve recycling, start generating significant renewable energy, protect our countryside and a pipeline of inward investment in tourism, university education and health facilities. ”
SEE ALSO: Recap: Updates as new borough council leader appointed after administration change
Speaking at the meeting on his win, Cllr Harvey said: “Basingstoke and Deane have been a one-party administration for the last 17 years. Today that changes. People have voted for better, they have given us their trust and we will strive to repay it. This is a new chapter in our town and a new chapter which brings in our administration, an administration I am proud to lead with my colleagues jointly together. There is no doubt, Mr Mayor, that the people of Basingstoke and Deane rejected the old regime, some have made some quite disgusting personal attacks.
“That proves a point really that this borough does deserve better and if all you have to justify your 17 years in power is the kind of attacks both on social media and in this chamber then I am sorry that speaks volumes.”