ON behalf of all members of the Independent Group I would like to pass on our sincere thanks to all those residents who gave us their overwhelming support on May 6.

We have been given a clear mandate from the people of the district that they wish for an independent council free from party politics.

The Independent Group intend to take the chairmanship of committees and will work with all groups within the council and the community to bring about the best decisions and prudent management of the council to the benefit of local people. Decisions will be people and not officer led. There will be an 'open door' policy on all issues.

We do not pretend it will be easy, we have inherited a mass of problems and debt from the Labour administration catastrophes, which equate to at least a four and a half per cent local tax increase next year. You can be assured we will doing everything possible to correct those costly mistakes as soon as possible without a further financial burden placed on local people.

Thank you again for your trust and support, all Independent councillors will be working very hard to achieve our objectives and promises in making this district a better, cleaner and more prosperous place to live

Cllr Tricia Heath,

Leader of the

Independent Group

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