Meet Rotherham Council's new opposition leader...

The Hellaby & Maltby West ward member, chosen by the Tory group last night, replaces Cllr Emily Barley, who stepped down in December following the death of baby daughter Beatrice during labour last May.

Cllr Ball thanked Cllr Barley and her deputy, Cllr Zach Collingham, for their hard work and leadership since the party’s record haul of seats in the May 2021 polls.

He added: “Winning 20 seats in the last election was a massive achievement and we need to ensure that this is consolidated and built on with the aim of getting Labour out of Riverside House.

“It was one of the proudest moments of my life watching 20 of us get elected. 

“Rotherham Conservatives need to ensure that we put a continual spotlight on the failings of Labour and provide a credible alternative vision, this we will do with the excellent team behind me.”

Cllr Ball praised the work individual councillors had already done on committees and in holding the ruling group to account in the Rotherham Town Hall chamber.

He said: “Councillors have also worked well with Alexander Stafford to ensure that local politics and the priorities of our communities — reducing anti-social behaviour, clean streets, decent play areas for children, regenerating high streets, fixing potholes and footpaths, access to social care — are at the forefront of our campaign to show how Labour has failed our area for too long.

“People in Maltby, Dinnington and Swallownest and other outlying areas are angry that they have been ignored for generations. That is why they supported us in 2021.

“Labour have had blank cheque to keep throwing money into Rotherham centre and it has been a shame that regeneration plans have not stretched outside of the centre in the way that money has been thrown into places like Forge Island. This needs to stop.

“We need to put forward a vision on how we can regenerate all of Rotherham borough, beyond the town centre.

“I look forward to the challenges of being the leader of the Rotherham Conservatives and look forward to showcasing the best of what Rotherham has and that is its people.”

The Tory group also picked Cllr Lewis Mills as deputy leader and Cllr Josh Bacon as chief whip.

Cllr Mills said: “As my ward knows, I will work tirelessly and get stuck in to enable me to carry out my duties as deputy leader to the best of my ability.”