Labour councillors in Reading have chosen the new leader of the council following the departure of Jason Brock.
Councillor Liz Terry (Labour, Coley) has been selected by fellow Labour councillors to lead Reading Borough Council after the party maintained power in the local elections this month.
Reading born Liz has lived all her life in the town and attended Christ the King Primary School and Blessed Hugh Farringdon secondary school before starting her career in local government as a temporary pay and display clerk at the council.
Cllr Terry said: “I had just had my first child and needed work.
“My mum had just taken voluntary redundancy from Gillette’s and agreed to look after the baby.
“I was sent from the Job Centre to the council for an interview and was delighted to get the job. Like many people I didn’t realise the wide range of services provided by councils and soon realised that working to provide services for local people was what I wanted to do.”
Her career saw her become Assistant Chief Executive at Slough Borough Council and Executive Director at Oldham Metropolitan Council.
Following that, cllr Terry became the Chief Executive of Berkshire Women’s Aid for seven years, tackling violence against women and supporting victims of domestic abuse.
First elected to Reading Borough Council in 2012, cllr Terry has been the lead councillor for Neighbourhoods (environment and communities), Children’s Services, Corporate Services and Resources, and was appointed deputy leader last year.
Cllr Terry said: “Reading has always been my home and I have been proud to represent the people of Coley ward and becoming the leader of the Labour Group and the council is an honour, a privilege and a big responsibility.
“I will do my best to make sure that Reading continues to be a great place to live, work and visit and very much look forward to doing so under a government which values public services and the essential role they play in our communities.”
Cllr Terry was made the deputy leader of the council for the 2023-24 municipal year, making her the presumptive successor to Jason Brock when he announced that he would be standing from the council in March.
She will officially assume her new position at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 22.
The news comes after Labour retained control of the council after the election held this month.
The number of Labour councillors was entirely unchanged as the party picked up a seat in Emmer Green ward but lost a seat vacated by retiring councillor Liam Challenger in Katesgrove.
Councillor Graeme Hoskin, who was previously a representative for Norcot from 2015 to 2024, was elected in Mr Brock’s place in Southcote.
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