THE Conservatives have elected a new leader on North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

Councillor Car Les has replaced Councillor John Weighell, who has resigned after leading the county council for nearly 14 years.

Coun Les was unopposed for the post and will now be put forward to lead the county council when it next meets.

Coun Les has served has a member of Coun Weighell’s executive throughout his leadership and said it will be business as usual at the next meeting.

He said: “The challenges for this large, rural and beautiful county are the same; it’s just the people leading that have changed.

“We still have £74m in savings to find – that is what the Government expects of us – and that means delivering services in different ways.”

He said that vulnerable children must be protected and the elderly must be helped to stay at home for as long as they want to.

“We must also look at the devolution being offered to local government and find out what that will mean for an authority like North Yorkshire,” he said.

“I have been a member of John’s team for a long time, so I know all the challenges. It is a privilege to have the chance now to lead the county council into the future.”

Councillor Gareth Dadd, who is the executive member for business and environmental services on NYCC, has been elected as deputy leader.