Changes in political leadership at Southampton City Council

The issue of leadership has emerged again this month with the ruling Labour administration announcing that they have chosen a new Group Leader, Cllr Alex Winning. Assuming no surprises, he will be elected Leader of the Council at the July meeting of full Council. Winning will replace Cllr Lorna Fielker, who had earlier announced that she would stand down to concentrate on running for the position of Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent next year.

At least, that is the official explanation. Rumours about a change is leader had been swirling around the Civic Centre for some time. This is not the place to speculate on palace intrigue though. However, I would though like to make a point about stability.

Cllr Winning will be the third Labour leader in the space of three years. With the City facing so many challenges, instability is not what we need. The Council has rightly been criticised for a churn in its senior management in recent years. There are very encouraging signs that that problem is being solved. However, there has been a churn in political leadership and a largely untested figure is now taking the helm.

While the City’s finances have been stabilised, the financial situation remains precarious and there are still £20 million ‘savings’ to be delivered this year. There are enormous challenges in economic development, social housing and the provision of social care. Not to mention the current renewed problems in the City’s waste collection. And that’s before we get to the wholesale reorganisation of local government, for which the government is requiring proposals within months.

In addition to some vision, the circumstances call for some heft, some experience and wisdom. This isn’t acquired by frequent changes of leadership.

As I’ve stated in previous editions of Liberal News, our Lib Dem Group is growing in stature as a constructive opposition and we will work to ensure that the Council delivers for the people of Southampton. If Labour can’t, the Lib Dems will.