Following the vote of no confidence recently that saw Broadstone Councillor Vikki Slade lose her position as BCP Council leader, a vote for a new leader took place at The Town Hall.
A secret ballot was held tonight (1st October 2020) giving the councillors an opportunity to vote for a new leader.
Two Councillors were nominated for the leadership poisition: Cllr Drew Mellor, leader of the BCP Conservative group and deposed leader Cllr Vikki Slade who was nominated for re-election as leader by Christchurch independent Cllr Lesley Dedman.
Councillor Mellor was elected as new leader by 40 votes to 33 with one abstention and will now appoint a new cabinet – expected to be made up of mainly conservative councillors. However in his closing speech, Cllr Mellor did offer an olive branch to local independents and offered to work with them – an offer which appeared to be rebuffed.