A CONSERVATIVE councillor has taken over as housing boss on City of York Council, on an interim basis amid upheavals in the local party.

Cllr Jenny Brooks, who represents Osbaldwick and Derwent, has been named as executive member for housing and safer neighbourhoods, in time for a key budget meeting on Thursday.

The housing job has been empty since Monday, February 22 when Cllr Sam Lisle resigned citing "irreconcilable differences" with the council leader. That came in the wake of fellow executive member Cllr Stuart Rawling's sacking by council leader Cllr David Carr.

Since then, Cllr Carr has been ousted as leader of the Conservative group, in favour of Cllr Ian Gillies but he remains council leader until a formal vote at a meeting later in February. Cllr Brooks has been appointed on a temporary basis, until Cllr Gillies is made council leader and confirms his permanent appointments for the Conservatives' four places on the ruling executive.