Adam Paynter, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group and the councillor for the Launceston North and North Petherwin electoral division, has been elected as the new leader of Cornwall Council. 

Adam, who was proposed by Independent Group leader Andrew Mitchell, and seconded by Malcolm Brown, the Liberal Democrat member for St Austell Bethel, thanked members for putting their trust in him and said he would work with all members, irrespective of the party they represented, to do the very best for Cornwall.

With no single group in overall political control following the elections on May 4, the new council administration has been formed through an alliance of the Independent and Liberal Democrat groups. 

Julian German, the Independent member for the Roseland, was appointed as the deputy leader of the council. 

The remaining eight members of the cabinet will be announced at a later date.

Also at today’s meeting, Mary May was unanimously elected as the chairman of the council.

Mrs May, who is the member for Penryn West, was the vice chairman of the council during the  previous administration. 

The new vice chairman of Cornwall Council is Hilary Frank, the Liberal Democrat member for Saltash South.