A NEW councillor has been chosen to lead Salisbury City Council.

Councillor Sam Charleston was chosen to be the new leader following a vote at an extraordinary meeting of the council at the Guildhall on Monday (May 12).

Cllr Charleston was the sole name put forward for the role, nominated by his wife, cllr Victoria Charleston, and he was elected after being backed by Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors.

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Charleston said: “Thank you to those that voted for me and thank you to everyone who didn’t vote for me as well for being here today.”

He went on to thank the councillors that did not get re-elected to city council.

He added: “It is a privilege to be elected as leader of Salisbury City Council. Whilst my party does not hold a majority, we are honoured to be the largest group and we were all elected on a clear platform of collaboration and openness.

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“The message from the people of Salisbury is that they want us to work together across political lines in the best interest of the city.

“I am reminded very strongly at this point that this is a parish council; I’m reminded of the fact that in the last administration we were similarly mixed and we worked together, I think, quite effectively.

“I think it is very fair to say that for 95% of us around this table and around the previous table, we probably agreed on 95% of everything we did.”

New leader of Salisbury City Council cllr Sam Charleston Picture: Cllr Sam Charleston

He said: “I will lead with respect and transparency and a willingness to listen. We will not be able to get things through without working together.”

This was the first meeting of the new-look administration following the results of local elections on May 2.

The results saw the Liberal Democrats become the largest party on the council after they secured 10 out of the possible 24 seats, with Labour securing six, the Conservatives securing four, Reform UK with one and three Independents making up the rest of the new-look council.

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Reform UK’s councillor Ed Rimmer, who was elected as leader of Reform UK at Wilshire Council after he was voted in to join the unitary authority as a Wiltshire councillor at the elections, called for clarity over the new administration.

He asked whether Salisbury City Council would be considered a Liberal Democrat minority administration or if the Labour group form part of the new administration.

Leader cllr Charleston confirmed that it is a Liberal Democrat minority administration.