Council leader to stand down and run for mayor

A council leader has announced she will be standing down in order to run for the first regional mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The leader of Southampton City Council, Lorna Fielker, said she would leave her role by the end of July.

The Swaythling ward member said she had not taken the decision lightly, adding that "big changes" were coming to local government.

Under the government's devolution priority programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are being fast tracked to set up a combined mayoral authority in May next year.

The elected mayor is expected to have responsibility for infrastructure, transport, skills and employment, with powers and funding transferred from Westminster.

Ms Fielker said: "To be credible in that role, I need to speak for the whole region, not just the city.

"The combined authority represents a huge opportunity.

"I believe our region deserves a strong, collaborative voice, someone who understands how to unlock its full potential by working together."

Ms Fielker said she would continue to "serve and do all I can to ensure Southampton is on a stronger, more stable path, for today and for the future" until a new council leader is selected.

The Labour group, which holds a large majority on the council, will select a new leader, who will then be formally elected at a full council meeting.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner Donna Jones announced in March that she intends to stand as a Conservative candidate in the mayoral election next year.

Party selection processes for mayoral candidates have yet to take place.

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