New Hampshire County Council leadership hopeful striving to be "business friendly"
The Conservative grouping of Hampshire County Council has selected a new leader to replace outgoing Cllr Rob Humby.
Cllr Nick Adams-King is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of the Hampshire authority at a council meeting Thursday.
On his Facebook page, Cllr Adams-King, who currently holds the executive role for universal services, said that, if elected, he would continue to “strive to be an efficient, caring, innovative, business-friendly council”.
Cllr Adams-King said: “Last Thursday [May 16], my colleagues in the Conservative group at Hampshire County Council elected me as their new group leader, which means that on Thursday, I will be our group’s candidate to be the new leader of Hampshire County Council.
“Under my leadership, Hampshire County Council will continue to strive to be an efficient, caring, innovative, business-friendly council, one that cares for our environment, tackles the challenge of climate change and actively promotes the positive and necessary work we do to protect our most vulnerable Hampshire residents.”
He also said that Cllr Jan Warwick, currently executive member for younger adults and health and wellbeing, would be the next deputy leader.
“I am blessed with an amazing team of colleagues who have a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm, and it is an incredible honour to be chosen by them as their leader. Amongst these individuals, there is no one more talented than Cllr Jan Warwick, whom I am delighted was chosen by my colleagues as our group deputy leader and, from Thursday, deputy leader of the council.
“My style is collegiate and cooperative, I look forward to working in that vein with my party colleagues and opposition members alike. No one enters politics to do harm, we just disagree about how to do good.
He also said Cllr Humby “changed HCC for the better.”
“Finally, I’d like to pay tribute to former leader, Cllr Rob Humby and deputy leader, Cllr Roz Chadd, for steering the council through two intensely difficult years. Rob stands down, knowing he has changed Hampshire County Council for the better. We owe him a huge vote of thanks, not just for his sacrifice and hard work of the last two years but for his many years of service to the people of Hampshire.”
Since 2013, Cllr Humby has represented the Bishop’s Waltham electoral division at Hampshire County Council and has previously held the position of cabinet member for economy, transport and environment.
He was deputy leader of Hampshire County Council between 2019 and 2022 before being elected as leader in May 2022 after the resignation of Councillor Keith Mans.
In his statement, Cllr Humby said that despite being “immensely proud” to serve the people of Hampshire, he had decided to step down and then retire from politics before the 2025 county council elections.
Cllr Humby said: “It is with deep regret that I announce my plans to step down after two years as county council leader and retire from local politics before the 2025 county council elections. Fortunately, however, this will now enable me to spend more time with my family, children, and grandchildren.”
