A NEW leader has been elected at South Oxfordshire District Council.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Rouane was elected after a unanimous vote on Thursday, October 7.

He has served as a district councillor for Didcot North East since 2019 and also serves as a county councillor for Didcot Ladygrove.

The vote came after former council leader Sue Cooper announced last week she would be stepping down.

Cllr Cooper said she wanted to spend more time with her family but would remain in the council's cabinet as a member for environment, climate change and nature recovery.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Cllr Rouane said: “I’m very proud to have been chosen as Councillor Cooper’s successor. Sue has done an excellent job as Leader – she has overseen the development and adoption of an ambitious and exciting Corporate Plan, the creation of the council’s first advisory committee to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies, and her leadership helped steer the council through the difficult pandemic while providing vital support to the most vulnerable members of our community.”

“Sue has laid the foundations on which we need to build. I will be pushing ahead with the actions set out in our Corporate Plan to tackle climate change, promote nature recovery, and build social housing."

Cllr Rouane has served in the cabinet since he was elected in 2019 and he will retain his role as member for environment, climate change and nature recovery.

Away from politics, he has a background in the charity sector and is director of climate change charity Possible.

The authority has been run by a coalition between the Liberal Democrats and Green Party since 2019.