READING Borough Council is to have a new leader, after Labour councillors voted for the successor to Jason Brock.
The former Southcote councillor served five years as the man in charge, but stepped down at the recent local elections.
The party has voted for his deputy, Cllr Liz Terry, to take on his role.
The Reading-born politician attended Christ the King Primary School and Blessed Hugh Farringdon secondary school before starting her career in local government as a temporary pay and display clerk at the council.
Cllr Terry said: “I had just had my first child and needed work. My mum had just taken voluntary redundancy from Gillette’s and agreed to look after the baby.
“I was sent from the Job Centre to the council for an interview and was delighted to get the job.
“Like many people I didn’t realise the wide range of services provided by councils and soon realised that working to provide services for local people was what I wanted to do.”
Her career saw her become assistant chief executive at Slough Borough Council and executive director at Oldham Metropolitan Council.
She also served for seven years as the chief executive of Berkshire Women’s Aid, tackling violence against women and supporting victims of domestic abuse.
First elected to Reading Borough Council in 2012, Cllr Terry has been the lead councillor for neighbourhoods (environment and communities), children’s services, corporate services and resources, and was appointed deputy leader last year when Cllr Tony Page was made mayor.
“Reading has always been my home and I have been proud to represent the people of Coley ward and becoming the leader of the Labour Group and the council is an honour, a privilege and a big responsibility,” Cllr Terry said.
“I will do my best to make sure that Reading continues to be a great place to live, work and visit and very much look forward to doing so under a government which values public services and the essential role they play in our communities.”
She will officially assume her new position at the council’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 22.
