Councillor David Mellen has been chosen as the new Leader of Nottingham City Council.
Following the local election on Thursday 2nd May, Councillor David Mellen was elected as Leader of the council’s ruling Labour Group.
Councillor Mellen was first elected to the Council in 1995 to represent Dales ward and has served on the Council’s Executive for ten years, most recently as Portfolio Holder for Early Intervention and Early Years.
Ahead of the local elections, Jon Collins announced he was standing down after 32 years’ service as a councillor and 16 years as Leader. He will remain Leader of the Council until Monday 20th May when Nottingham City Council formally elects its new Leader.
David Mellen said: “Jon has shown a great deal of passion in leading our city and I look forward to working with him on a handover during the next few weeks. I am humbled by the opportunity my colleagues in the Nottingham Labour Group have given me to serve our city.”
Councillor Sally Longford has also been elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Group. Sally was first elected to the Council in 2011 to Wollaton East and Lenton Abbey and is the current Portfolio Holder for Energy and Environment.
Sally said: “I am thrilled to be working alongside David as we deliver our ambitious manifesto during the next four years. I would like to thank Councillor Chapman for his hard work and dedication in working alongside group members in challenging times.”
Nottingham Labour won 50 out of 55 seats in the local elections.
Speaking about the kind of council he wants to lead, Cllr Mellen said: “At a time of great cynicism towards politicians, Nottingham Labour must stand out as a group of people who do what they say they will do. I want to ensure that Nottingham City Council does this in partnership so that the resources that may not be in the council, but are present across the city, are harnessed to achieve the ambitious and exciting pledges that we have set out to the public.”
David Mellen will formally take the position of Leader of Nottingham City Council at the Full Council AGM on Monday 20th May.