Newark East’s Nottinghamshire County Councillor Sam Smith announced as new Conservative Group Leader

Newark East’s county councillor has been announced as the new Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council.

Following the news that Ben Bradley will step down as leader last week, today (Monday) it has now been announced that Sam Smith will be the council’s new Conservative Group Leader.

Mr Smith is expected to be confirmed as Nottinghamshire County Council’s new Leader at its Full Council meeting on Thursday December 5.

Speaking after his election as Conservative Group Leader, he thanked Ben Bradley for his leadership of the Group and Council over the past three and a half years.

“Nottinghamshire is a far better place thanks to the leadership of Councillor Bradley and this Conservative administration at County Hall and that is something I look forward to building on in the coming weeks and months,” Mr Smith said.

“During the 2017 and 2021 Conservative administrations at this Council, I am proud that Nottinghamshire County Council’s Conservative Councillors have kept Council Tax as low as possible, delivered good social care, protected and expanded bus services, retained a brilliant youth service and never shut a library.

“We’re also investing more than £60million into repairing our roads, £50 million into new schools and have a capital programme of over £100 million.

“This is in stark contrast to bankrupt Labour-run Nottingham City Council. Here at County Hall, this Conservative administration will keep delivering on the priorities of Nottinghamshire’s residents and I am honoured to have been elected as the next Conservative Leader,” he added.

“Working alongside fantastic colleagues, I will do all I can to continue to make Nottinghamshire a better place to live, work and visit.”