Ashby councillor Kenny Horn has been voted in as chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council.

Cllr Horn, representing the Ashby Castle ward, was vice-chairman for the 12 months since last year's local government elections.

But, at Tuesday's Annual Council meeting in Coalville, he took over from the previous chairman, Cllr Ray Morris.

He won via a show of hands among councillors ahead of the other nominated candidate, Cllr David Everitt.

The vote was a tie, and it was Cllr Morris' casting vote that saw Cllr Horn made chairman for the next 12 months.

Cllr Horn said: "I'd like to extend my thanks to Cllr Morris for his support and friendship he has provided over the past year."

The new deputy chairman of the council is Cllr Morris while Conservative Cllr Richard Blunt retained his position as council leader - for the 18th year - ahead of Labour group leader Cllr Sean Sheahan.

Cllr Blunt said: "My main message is the 38 councillors in the room have grown up in the last year.

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"We've made sure the Labour opposition has had a far greater insight on the major issues.

"But working as an alliance is not easy, make no mistake, my pledge for next year is to work more closely on issues than we have already.

"We want to work together for the greater good.

"You may have ideas, I will take calls from people no matter what their political persuasion."

There was also a long service award made to Cllr Michael Wyatt for his 21 years as a councillor.

Cllr Wyatt said: "Twenty-one years representing a community is truly an honour.

"Since 2003, I've always fought very hard for the communities I represent.

"I'd like to thank everyone in Greenhill and Castle Rock, my current ward, for their past and continued support which I truly appreciate."

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