The upcoming leader of Nottinghamshire County Council says he has a “big task” ahead as the Conservative Group plans for the authority’s election next May.
Cllr Sam Smith, cabinet member for education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), was announced as the group’s new leader on Monday (November 25).
On December 5, he will take over from Cllr Ben Bradley, who announced he would be stepping down following a “challenging” year and two election defeats.
His replacement, who’s aged 27, represents Newark East on the County Council and Trent Valley on Gedling Borough Council.
He is due to take over as leader less than half a year before voters across the county go to the polls to choose who they want to stand as their county councillor.
The council consists of 66 elected councillors and 34 of these seats belong to the Conservative Group.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Smith said he expects his time as leader to prove a “big task” following the Labour Party’s landslide victory nationally in July.
But he said: “Obviously we’ve been helped out by the dreadful Labour Government that has just added £31m to our council’s social care bill.
“Unemployment will rise because of the increase to National Insurance [contributions from employers].
“And a vote for any party [other than the Conservative Party] is a vote for Labour.”
Cllr Smith became the youngest councillor on Gedling Borough Council in 2019 at the age of 22.
In a Conservative Group vote on Monday morning, he beat Cllr Richard Jackson, the council’s current cabinet member for finance, and Cllr Neil Clarke, who had both tabled their leadership bids.
Once he officially becomes leader in December, Cllr Smith will take control of the council at a crucial time.
Alongside the upcoming election, the authority is facing a £4.4m in-year budget gap and an expected shortfall of up to £70m over the next three years.
He admitted “things are not as rosy as they could be”, but said the council is in a better position than others – including Nottingham City Council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt in November last year.
The message to residents, he says, will be “delivery, delivery, delivery”.
He said the council already has a £100m capital programme and will be investing £66m into the county’s roads and £50m on new school infrastructure.
“I think we will be continuing to work with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA),” he added.
“They have a lot of money now that can be invested into things like better rural connectivity.”
Cllr Bradley, who is looking to stand for the Conservative Party in the Lincolnshire mayoral election, congratulated Cllr Smith.
“I’m certain that I leave the group in good hands as I move on to pastures new,” he said on X.
