The leader elect of Kirklees Council has said Labour should have done better at the local elections last week.
Batley West councillor, Shabir Pandor, has been elected as the new leader of the Labour group.
Labour retained 34 seats at the elections last week but is one seat short of majority control.
Its hopes of full control were dashed when it failed to win Almondbury.
Our reporter Nick Lavigueur speaks about Clr David Sheard below
Clr Pandor, who has been a cabinet member for education under ousted leader, Clr David Sheard, said: “We had a solid set of election results last week but the truth is we should be doing better.
“Kirklees needs and deserves a majority Labour council delivering the improvements in living standards and public services that only Labour can provide.
“Part of achieving that will be in ensuring we use all the talents at our disposal within the Labour group.
“I want my Cabinet to be ethnically diverse, balanced between men and women, and give our fantastic councillors the opportunity to make the most of the skills and experiences they possess.
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“Together as a team, we can take Kirklees to the next level and make sure our borough punches above its weight.”
Clr Pandor said he was “proud” to be chosen and thanked the fellow councillors that put their trust in him.
He also paid tribute to Clr Sheard for his work during lean times for local government.
He added: “He has seen us through some challenging times, with unprecedented levels of cuts from the Tory government in Westminster, with tenacity and hard work.
“I want to build on those foundations.
“We know we have more huge cuts from David Cameron on their way, but I am hugely ambitious for our borough.”
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“As a team we must work to become a borough where everybody can achieve their potential.
“That means greater inward investment and regeneration, more highly paid jobs, and high quality support for families and children.
“I will embrace technology to become a digital council utilising IT to benefit all of our residents.
“And with our ageing population, a priority for me will be social care reform to keep older people healthy and active in their own communities for longer.”
