ANDOVER councillor Phil North has been nominated as the next leader of Test Valley Borough Council by the Conservative party.

The member for Alamein defeated current deputy leader and Ampfield councillor Martin Hatley in a ballot vote to become the new leader of the Tory group.

He will now go up against other council party nominees to replace leader Ian Carr following the recent announcement that he will step down in May after more than two-decades at the helm.

However, as the council has a conservative majority, it is expected Cllr North will take the seat following the vote at Annual Council meeting in May. Other nominees are yet to be announced.

Mr North said: “I’m honoured, humbled and delighted to have been chosen as the new Leader of Test Valley’s Conservative Councillors and to be our Nominee for Leader at Annual Council in May.

“Under Cllr Ian Carr’s leadership Test Valley has been an excellently run Council, delivering efficient and effective services, a legacy of which Ian should be rightly proud.

“I want to now build upon our successes; encouraging innovation in delivering our services and communicating more effectively with our residents.

“I want to lead a Council that says, if you’re a resident who lives in Test Valley, a business that plies its trade in Test Valley or an organisation that operates in Test Valley we will be on your side, helping you achieve your aspirations.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues and the fantastic and dedicated team of officers at the Council to achieve these aims.”