New leader elected at Tamworth council

Tamworth Borough Council has elected Cllr Jeremy Oates (pictured) as its new leader.

He takes over from Cllr Daniel Cook, who is stepping down after 12 years at the helm of the authority. Cllr Cook said the time was right to hand over the reins while he devotes more time to his family and the new baby he and his wife are expecting this spring.

The current portfolio holder for growth and regeneration, Cllr Oates has served on Tamworth Borough Council continuously for more than two decades, having been successfully elected to represent the town in seven consecutive elections since 2000 - first for the Belgrave ward until 2002 and in Trinity ward since then.

He has held various roles, including scrutiny chair, cabinet member, deputy mayor, mayor, deputy leader and also previously served as Leader of the Council, between 2006 and 2009. He is now looking forward to taking on the challenge for a second time.

Handing over to Cllr Oates, and resigning the role he has held for more than a decade, Cllr Cook said: “Jeremy, you have my full support, and anything you need of me just ask, or you may find it done before you need to on some occasions my friend. Don 't rest on the things I did, make them better, for that 's why we serve.

“Jeremy is the right choice for the future of Tamworth. With that in mind Madam Mayor, I wish to retract my intention to resign as Leader of this Council effective 1st March 2021, I offer my resignation with immediate effect, that 's the confidence I have in Jeremy."

Cllr Oates thanked councillors for their support and said: “We have a good council and this is a great town with some fantastic assets, but that doesn 't mean we can become complacent, we can 't rest on our laurels. We need to be more dynamic and more responsive, just as we have in the last 12 months.

“Tamworth was once the beating heart of the ancient kingdom of Mercia, we need it to be that beating heart again, now and in the future. We have the opportunity to drive that change through projects such as the Future High Streets Fund, the Gungate project and the Recovery & Reset programme.

“We also need to be an engaging authority, listening and talking to people so we can go on that journey together. ”