THE LABOUR group in Redbridge council has appointed a new leader following its positive showing in the recent elections.

Cllr Elaine Norman has stood down as leader to be replaced by Cllr Bob Littlewood, while Cllr Balvinder Saund will become deputy leader.

The elections on May 6 saw the Labour group gain a significant number of seats, ending the count with a total of 26, which prevented the Conservatives from reaching an overall majority.

The Tories dropped one seat overall, emerging with 30, while the Liberal Democrats were the most disappointed after increasing their share of the vote but suffering a drop in the number of seats they held, which went down to seven.

Last week the Lib Dem leader Cllr Ian Bond - who himself took over from former leader Cllr Hugh Cleaver just days after polling day - said talks with the Conservative group were progressing well ahead of the upcoming full council meeting on Thursday, May 20.