New Leader elected at South Hams District Council

South Hams District Council has appointed its new Leader at this year’s Annual Council meeting after Cllr Julian Brazil stepped down. 

Cllr Dan Thomas was elected by his fellow members as South Hams District Council’s new Leader.  

Cllr Julian Brazil (left) hands over the reins at SHDC to Cllr Dan Thomas (right)

Cllr Thomas said: “Thank you all very much for the trust you put in me – it is an honour. I will do my very best for the people of the South Hams.   

“We will keep our communities at the heart of what we do and continue to deliver our core priorities - supporting our local economy, tackling the housing challenges, providing high quality services for people in the South Hams, fighting climate change and preserving our area’s rich biodiversity.  

“I’d like to pay tribute to Cllr Brazil for all his efforts as our Leader for the past two years. Julian always made sure that every voice was heard in our council chamber, regardless of their political persuasion. I would like that culture to remain, to ensure that our communities in the South Hams are truly represented.

"We will continue to serve our residents to the best of our ability.”

Cllr Julian Brazil, stepped down as Leader of the Council today to focus on his role at Devon County Council as the new Leader of the Liberal Democrats following the recent elections. He’ll remain on South Hams District Council’s Executive and as a councillor representing the Stokenham ward. 

Cllr Brazil said: “It’s been an absolute privilege, honour and pleasure to be Leader of South Hams District Council and I am proud of what we have achieved.  

“We’ve shown in the South Hams that you can do politics in a different way through consensus and compromise - it’s worked well here. Of course, on occasions we disagree but that’s how it should be. This maturity in debate is an ethos I hope will continue here and be taken on elsewhere.  

“I’d like to thank all council officers and councillors, and particularly my group, for putting their trust in me. By working in such a constructive way we’ve achieved many things. There is still much to do, but our main priority now and in the future must be to continue working for our communities.”