THE new leader of Malvern Hills District Council says he will work tirelessly to deliver “fairness, opportunities and prosperity” for everyone in the district.

David Hughes was elected unnopposed when the council met on Tuesday evening, following former leader Phil Grove’s decision to stand down after three years.

The Tory councillor, who was endorsed by his predecessor as “absolutely the right person to lead the council at this time”, also pledged to give councillors more of a voice and to try and find common ground with the opposing Lib Dem/Green group.

“I am determined to move this council to what I call a true member-led administration. You are the people who were elected and it is your views that count,” he said. “I also hope to engage with the opposition to find some common ground because I think we all have the common interest of the district at heart.”

Coun Hughes warned the council has several big challenges ahead, including an upcoming strategic review as well as finalising the South Worcestershire Development Plan – a masterplan for development over the next 20 years.

“We have to get this through and we have to get it right for the future survival of our district,” he said.

The Alfrick ward councillor, who joined the council in 2007, paid tribute to Coun Grove.

“Over the last three years he has presided over some very difficult policies we have had to implement, and been very successful on this,”

he said. “He has set us on a path I think will bear fruit.”

The council’s new deputy leader is Paul Swinburn, who was also elected unnopposed.

Coun Hughes said: “In his own words he is a new boy on the block, but he has come in with a degree of professionalism and experience that has really benefited this council.”