Coventry City Council to hold key AGM after local elections
Labour remains the largest party on the council with 24 seats but is short of the minimum majority of 28
Coventry City Council’s leader and deputy leader have been confirmed after the May 7 local elections saw Labour lose control of the authority.
Labour remains the largest party on the council with 24 seats but is short of the minimum majority of 28 needed for overall control. It has confirmed it intends to form a minority administration.
The party has now announced that “a refreshed leadership duo will be at the helm of Coventry City Council.”
Cllr Lynnette Kelly is set to become the city council’s new Deputy Leader after Cllr Abdul Khan opted to retire from the role.
Cllr Kelly is an experienced councillor who will serve alongside the city council’s Leader, George Duggins. This is to be formally announced at the council’s AGM on May 21.
Lynnette has previously served on the Council’s Cabinet, as well as being a former Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. Coventry born and bred, Cllr Kelly has represented Henley, Sherbourne, and Earlsdon wards during her time on the council.
Cllr Kelly said: “It’s an honour to become the City Council’s new deputy leader. I want to thank Abdul for his service to our city and I look forward to bringing fresh ideas and new energy to the Cabinet.”
Cllr Duggins said: “It’s great to be joined by Lynnette as our new Deputy Leader. Abdul’s leaving some big shoes to fill – but I know Lynnette will be a real success in the role. My thanks go to Abdul for all his support over the last eleven years.”
Cllr Duggins added: “Alongside Lynnette and our renewed Cabinet, we’re looking forward to getting back to work serving our city.
“From investing more in the fight against potholes and fly-tipping, to the ‘outstanding’ rating just awarded to children’s services by Ofsted, to improved green spaces and better housing for homeless local families, we’re leading the way to a better future for Coventry.”
Cllr Kelly was re-elected in Earlsdon ward, where Labour took all three seats. With the second-highest number of votes, she will be a councillor for two years before the seat comes up for election again in May 2028. The other two councillors in Earlsdon are Kindy Sandhu and Antony Tucker, who were also re-elected on May 7.
Cllr Duggins was re-elected in the city’s Longford ward. He had the third-highest number of votes so will be a councillor for one year before the seat comes up again in the next Coventry local elections in May 2027. All other one-year seats will be contested at the same time.
The new chair of Coventry’s Labour group is Earlsdon councillor Antony Tucker. He was elected into the role after previous chairman Dave Toulson was ousted in Sherbourne ward, where Reform won all three seats.