The next leader of Lancashire County Council is set to be Cllr Stephen Atkinson.
Earlier today, Cllr Atkinson was elected as the leader of the Reform UK group on the council, which holds the majority of council seats following the election on May 1.
It is expected that Cllr Atkinson will be ratified as council leader at a meeting of the full council on May 22.
During the meeting, councillors who have been selected to form the council's cabinet will also be unveiled.
The cabinet of a council is responsible for day-to-day decision making across the full range of services as well as making recommendations on policy, strategy and budget issues to the full council.
Cllr Atkinson, 55, who represents the division of Ribble Valley South West, served as leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, representing the Conservatives from January 2019 until he stood down earlier this year.
Born in Lancashire, a self-trained engineer, he started his first business venture with his brother at the age of 21.
Together they now run a Lancashire-based educational furniture business as well as invest in commercial and industrial properties in the area.
Cllr Atkinson, who is married with two sons, and describes himself as a devoted family man, said in his spare time he has a great love for the outdoors, enjoying walking, skiing, motorcycling and sailing.
He said: "I am passionate about Lancashire and can't wait to start working to ensure the council delivers excellent services for all our residents.
"Together with my fellow councillors I will be looking to focus our policies on what is most important to residents so we can make a real difference.
"I'm also very much looking forward to working with officers as we build a better future for our county."
Cllr Simon Evans, member for Skelmersdale Central, was also elected deputy leader of the Reform UK group earlier today and is expected to be ratified as deputy leader at the full council on May 22.
Reform won 53 of 84 available seats at the Lancashire County Council elections earlier this month, including seven out of 10 in the Lancaster and Morecambe District.
Gary Kniveton, Brian Moore, Graeme Austin, Graham Dalton, Russell Walsh, Shaun Cummins and Martyn Sutton were all elected to the county council.
The result was echoed across Lancashire as Reform won overall control of the county council from the Conservatives.
The previous majority party were reduced from 46 seats to eight and Labour went down to just five seats in the county.
The other three seats locally were won by the Greens, increasing their number of overall seats on the county council to four. The Liberal Democrats have five. There are four independents, three councillors not specified and two representing Our West Lancashire.
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