Monday 2 May 2022

THE LEADER of East Riding Council’s ruling Conservative group, Cllr Jonathan Owen, who is also leader of the council, has seen off a leadership challenge, being re-elected as leader of the group at its annual meeting, with former cabinet member Cllr David Tucker running against him.

The meeting also saw Cllr Anne Handley elected as deputy leader after her predecessor Cllr John Holtby stood down from the post. The vote comes one year after Cllr Owen and Cllr Holtby came to power after mounting a coup which ousted predecessors Cllr Richard Burton and Cllr Mike Stathers respectively.

Cllr Tucker and Cllr Handley are thought to have stood on a joint slate, with current Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder Cllr Mike Medini also running to be deputy leader. 

Cllr Owen is believed to have won by a comfortable margin and he called for unity within the group in his victory speech. And Cllr Tucker, of South East Holderness, also called for the group to get behind Cllr Owen after conceding defeat

Ongoing devolution talks and fallout from a recent Local Government Association report on the inner workings of the council are thought to have dominated the vote.

The vote also took place in the wake of allegations of bullying and undemocratic practices at the council made in a leaked draft Local Government Association report. 

Cllr Owen’s cabinet has since approved an action plan to address issues raised in the final version of the report, which removed explicit references to bullying. 

It also stated senior councillors were getting to grips with its political priorities under Cllr Owen but called for a greater sense of vision and a stronger local leadership role.

BEVERLEY marine pilot Eddie Scott begins his bid to be crowned Masterchef champion 2022 when the first of three final episodes is screened on BBC-1 tomorrow at 8pm. He’s completed a virtually faultless route through to the final and must be one of the favourites.

The programme continues Wednesday and concludes Thursday night. There are five finalists; one of whom will be eliminated tomorrow night. By Thursday’s final episode only three cooks will remain.

Eddie has said that one day he hopes to have his own food business and names the Pig & Whistle in Beverley and the Pipe and Glass at South Dalton amongst his favourite places to eat.