10:35am Tuesday 9th February 2010
ESSEX County Council has announced that Peter Martin will be its new leader with immediate effect.
The decision follows a meeting of the full council where Mr Martin was confirmed as leader. It came after Lord Hanningfield resigned as leader after he was charged in connection with his House of Lords expenses.
Conservative Mr Martin, who was deputy leader, was voted in at a full council meeting at County Hall.
Lord Hanningfield, who faces six charges of falsely claiming expenses as a member of the House of Lords, made a brief speech before officially stepping down as leader.
He then left the chamber ahead of a debate on the authority's budget to a round of applause from the Conservative benches.
FULL REPORT IN WEDNESDAY'S PAPER
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/trade_directory/