Warwickshire County Council to cut another £60m from budget

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The new leader of Warwickshire County Council’s ruling Tories had pledged not to shirk “tough choices” in £60million more cuts and heavy job losses.



Coun Izzi Seccombe said private companies and communities would increasingly step in to replace more council-run services.

As the Telegraph exclusively revealed, she became Tory leader without challenge at a private meeting on Friday – paving the way to become the council’s first female leader at its AGM on May 21.

Conservatives remain the largest party despite heavy election losses on May 2 – and are set to continue as a minority administration in a hung council.

Coun Seccombe told the Telegraph: “We have to be clear-headed about harsh and tough choices, and we have to start work straight away.”

Asked if as a Conservative she thought unprecedented government funding cuts to councils of 27 per cent were desirable, she said: “They are a fact of life.

"We cannot go on spending above our means, otherwise there would be no public services left. We will fight for every last ha’penny, but its important for us to be bold.”

As cabinet member for adult social services, she has presided over elderly people’s home closures, current plans to privatise adult learning courses for thousands of people, and was a vocal advocate of replacing council-run libraries with community ventures.

A former boarding school pupil, she said communities should get back to a previous generation where people “knew who the vulnerable people were.”

Of the high likelihood of becoming the council’s first female leader, she said it was “symbolic to the women of Warwickshire to show we can do the job as well as anybody else”.

The former businesswoman added: “It is significant. I would be enormously proud.” But she said she “would like to think” her colleague selected here on ability, not gender.

A councillor for 12 years, she replaces as group leader Alan Farnell, the council leader who lost his Nuneaton Weddington seat to new Green councillor Keith Kondakor.

She said: “I wouldn’t wish to be here in the circumstances of Alan (Farnell) leaving the council. He’s been a loyal, honourable and brilliant servant of Warwickshire.”

Another £60million cuts are expected over the next three years - the same amount which has seen around 1,800 council job cuts since 2011.

This month’s election saw the Conservatives lose a massive majority and overall control. They have 26 councillors, Labour 22, Lib Dems 9, Greens 2, and 3 independents.

The two largest parties are adamant they want to avoid any coalitions, although talks will continue between parties before next Tuesday.

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New Warwickshire County Council leader announces all-Tory cabinet

The new leader of Warwickshire County Council has announced an all-Tory ruling cabinet – ignoring calls to cut it by a third and have a “rainbow” all-party cabinet.

Izzi Seccombe reduced the number of councillors sitting at the top decision-making table from ten to nine.

But Lib Dem opposition had called for the cabinet positions to come down to seven.

As the Telegraph revealed yesterday, it came as the Lib Dems and two new Green councillors accused Labour and Conservative of “stitching-up” voters in private talks which have resulted in an all-Tory cabinet.

In return, Labour – as the second largest party in a hung council after winning 10 seats in May 2 elections – have been handed leading positions on scrutiny committees - which can block but not overturn cabinet decisions.

Labour councillor June Tandy denied it meant voters’ inclusive message on May 2 – that they did not want one party in control – was being ignored.

She said scrutiny could force a re-think at the Tory cabinet – and if the cabinet did not respond, all opposition parties could join together to vote down Conservative policies at full council – including annual budgets which are expected to deliver up to £100million more cuts in jobs and services over three years.

The Greens and Liberal Democrats had called for a “rainbow” cabinet of all parties to run the council - with parties working together to offer stability in tough times.

But Conservative councillors told Tuesday’s council annual general meeting the leader had the right to choose her cabinet. Coun Seccombe was voted in to replace Alan Farnell – who lost his seat to new Green councillor Keith Kondakor in Weddington, Nuneaton – as Tory leader by the Conservative group earlier this month. Tories have 26 seats against Labour’s 22, Lib Dem 9, Green two and Independents three.

Coun Seccombe said: “We have to make it work. It’s going to be difficult.

“Nothing can be achieved in this council without a shared understanding and a shared understanding of the impact on the people we represent.”

Councillor Alan Cockburn is council deputy leader, replacing Bob Stevens after beating him in a Tory group deputy leadership challenge.

He also becomes cabinet member finance and economic development.

The rest of the cabinet is: Public health with special responsibility for HS2 Bob Stevens; Transport and planning: Peter Butlin; Customers: Colin Hayfield; Children and schools: Heather Timms; Community safety: Les Caborn; Adult social care: Jose Compton; Corporate business and environment: Jeff Clarke.