Cllr Liz Brennan has been elected Leader of the Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council.
It follows the resignation of former Conservative Group Leader Cllr Sam Bromiley, who has led the Group since April 2023.
Cllr Brennan received the full, unanimous support of her Conservative colleagues at a meeting held last night (Wed 26).
Liz, who represents the Frenchay and Downend ward, was previously the Group’s Deputy Leader and currently sits on one of the council’s planning committees. She is a mum-of-three who lives in South Gloucestershire with her family and is an active community champion.
Her community work began when she started campaigning for life-saving medicine for cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that one of her children suffers from.
The Conservative Group has also elected a new Deputy Group Leader, with Cllr Ben Stokes named as Liz’s number two.
Cllr Stokes represents the Boyd Valley ward and was formerly the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care under the Conservative’s previous administration.
Cllr Liz Brennan said: “I wish to issue a sincere thank you to my Conservative Group colleagues for putting their faith in me and electing me to be their leader. I also want to say a particular thank you to former leader Sam Bromiley for doing an outstanding job at leading the Group over the past two-and-a-half years.
“As the opposition Group on the council, it’s our job to hold the administration to account. And on so many local issues, this Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition is failing.
“They introduced car parking charges when they said they wouldn’t. They are reducing black bin collections to three-weekly and they are continuing with plans to bulldoze the green belt. All while South Gloucestershire’s roads crumble and peoples’ council tax bills go up.
“Under my leadership, the Conservative Group will continue to stand up for residents by challenging the administration’s unfair and short-sighted decisions. And we will be a force to be reckoned with come the local elections in less than two years’ time.”
At Wednesday night’s Group meeting, Liz set out her vision for taking back control of South Gloucestershire Council at the next local elections in 2027.
She focused on building trust with local residents and showing how South Gloucestershire can thrive under a Conservative-led council.
The outgoing leader, Cllr Bromiley, has given Liz his full support and has thanked his Conservative colleagues for their efforts during his tenure.
Cllr Sam Bromiley said: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead the Conservative Group over the past two-and-a-half years.
“We have much to be proud of for what we have achieved over the years. The time is now right, however, for me to step down and let somebody else take the reins. As we look ahead to the local elections in 18 months’ time, we need a leader who can bring the energy and drive needed to win.
“I will remain an active part of the Conservative Group and will continue to hold the current Labour/Lib Dem administration to account.
“I wish Cllr Brennan the very best and I have every faith that she will be a brilliant leader.”
Cllr Bromiley will continue to serve on the council as one of the Conservative Group’s representatives for the Parkwall & Warmley ward.
