A LABOUR councillor is set to become the public face of North Herts District Council (NHDC) for the first time in 14 years, in an unprecedented move by the ruling Conservative Party.
The Comet has learned that Hitchin Oughton ward councillor Joan Kirby is due to be elected as vice-chairman of NHDC at the annual meeting of the council tonight (Thursday), despite the Conservatives having 33 of the 49 elected seats.
Current chairman Cllr David Levett will step down at the meeting and will be replaced by current vice-chairman Cllr Michael Weeks.
Cllr Kirby, who if elected will be the first Labour chairman since Cllr Judi Billing in 1998-99, would then take over the role of representing the district at a wide range of public events from Cllr Weeks in a year’s time.
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