Wright: "We must keep going"

10.37.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jul 2010

Political groups must work together to keep important council business going. That is the message from new Liberal Democrat Leader at City Hall, Rosalind Wright, after this week's High Court decision to remove 13 City Councillors from their posts.

Commenting on the current situation, Cllr Wright said: "It is hard for councillors and officers. Unfortunately, the last government's mishandling of the unitary bid process has landed the City Council in a difficult position. All parties have lost some very good and very experienced councillors, just at a time when the council faces important decisions on budgets. But we absolutely must "keep the show on the road", Over the summer, councillors will be examining the way the Council operates, and looking to make savings proposals. It is critical that we do not lose momentum.

The High Court decision on Monday 5th July meant that orders to create a new Norwich unitary authority were stopped and the decision to cancel elections overturned. Voters in the Norwich City Council area will be invited to elect councillors to represent the 13 city council wards. The date of election is as yet unconfirmed.

The 13 City Councillors removed from their posts included Liberal Democrat Councillors Brian Watkins (Eaton Ward) and Joyce Divers (Thorpe Hamlet Ward).