Phillip Black has been announced as the new leader of the Labour Group on Lancaster City Council.
Cllr Black replaces Erica Lewis, after she lost her seat in last week’s local elections.
Mr Black has been a local councillor since winning a seat in the Skerton West ward in 2019.
Last week he was re-elected to the council after winning in the Scale Hall ward.
He was confirmed as new Labour Group leader following a meeting last night.
He said: ‘’I’m honoured that my friends and colleagues have chosen to put their trust in me.
‘’I have big shoes to fill following Erica, and lots of hard work lays ahead.’’
Cllr Black has previously served as chair of the Appeals Committee, as well as sitting on the Budget and Performance Panel and Standards Committee.
He has also sat on the Heysham Nuclear Power Station Local Community Liaison Committee.
Following the elections, the city council remained under no overall control, meaning Labour and the Greens will be looking to align with other parties to form an administration, with talks ongoing.
A cross-party group of Green, Labour and independent councillors had previously been running the cabinet, led by Caroline Jackson of the Greens, who replaced County Councillor Lewis in 2021.


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