Council reveals its new leader
The new leader of Walsall Council is Mike Bird – who takes over for the third time.
The Pheasey Park Farm councillor was chosen last night after a vote by the ruling Tory party behind closed doors.
A new-look decision-making cabinet is expected to be unveiled soon.
Councillor Bird will officially take over the reins from Councillor John O'Hare, who is to be the new Mayor of Walsall, on May 18.
The 60-year-old father-of-one won a battle with deputy council leader Adrian Andrew and current Mayor of Walsall Tom Ansell for the leadership.
Councillor Andrew is to remain as second in command.
Councillor Bird will assess and decide on his cabinet team over the weekend.
He said: "I am very proud, it is a big job and I hope I am up to the task. The biggest aim is to get the finances under real control.
"I am also a firm believer in doing fewer services well than a lot of services poorly.
"There will be some changes and I will look at that over the weekend.
"I have got to look at what talents we have got in the group and which people have got the time."
Businessman Councillor Bird, of Charlemont Road, Walsall, was leader between 1992 and 1995 and tfrom 2000 until 2002.
