Reform to run county council with minority control

Reform UK have formally taken control of a county council following the local elections earlier this month.

While the party won the most seats in the polls in Norfolk, it did not have enough for a majority.

But in a vote at County Hall in Norwich on Thursday morning, members of the authority voted to make Reform's David Bick leader of the council.

It means the party is in minority control but will be able to make most decisions, only requiring support from other parties on some votes – such as setting an annual budget.

Bick stood unopposed, as no other party put forward a candidate to challenge him.

Backed by his party members, he was elected with 39 votes for, 31 against and eight councillors abstaining.

Following his election, he said "voters have expressed their wish for change" and promised "a laser focus on value for money, and providing the best possible service".

He also said he hoped the new job titles in his cabinet would "reflect descriptions the public would better understand".

Those included roles overseeing "budget responsibility", "commercial assets and revenue generation" and "countryside, coast and culture".

Reform have 40 councillors on the authority, with the Liberal Democrats the next largest group with 13.

The Greens have 12 members, Great Yarmouth First (GYF) nine, Conservatives eight, Labour one, and there is also one independent councillor.

With support from GYF, Reform voted through a recommendation from council officers to cut three political assistant jobs, to save about £164,000 a year.

Following the meeting, Liberal Democrat group leader Brian Watkins said Reform's values "are diametrically opposed to ours", but going forward he hoped all parties would be able to "find as much common ground as we possibly can".

"That would include things like the cost of living crisis," he said.

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