A former firefighter has taken over as leader of Swale council after being elected to front its rainbow coalition.

Cllr Tim Gibson (Lab) was nominated by outgoing leader Mike Baldock (Swale Independents Alliance), who himself will take over the position of deputy.

Cllr Gibson, who is leader of Swale’s Labour Group and represents Roman ward, picked up all 44 of the votes during the meeting in Sittingbourne on Wednesday night. Three councillors were absent.

It will be the second term for the council's new committee system, introduced to ensure more than one party gets a voice in decision-making.

The council's structure will now be confirmed as a coalition of Labour, Swale Independents Alliance (SIA) and the Green Party for the next four years.

Cllr Monique Bonney, representing the West Downs ward, has joined the SIA to give the group 12 seats. Added to Labour's 15 and the Green Party's three, it gives the coalition 30 councillors.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Hannah Perkin, whose party missed out on any of the key committee chairs, is also expected to support the new coalition.

It means the Conservatives have been ousted in the district for the second successive term, and forced to be in opposition once again.

Cllr Gibson said he was "absolutely thrilled" to be elected leader, adding: "It's a real honour and privilege to be able to be elected.

"I can now commit to working tirelessly for the residents of Swale.

"Like all of us, I'm sure I won't get everything right, but ensuring I do my best in eliminating partisanship and petty politics is definitely something I will aim to achieve.

"This council needs to have as much openness and transparency as possible because that's the only way people are going to get their needs fulfilled.”

Cllr Gibson, who was in the fire service from 1983-2013 as well as a football referee before becoming a councillor in 2019, says he wants to make improvements in terms of the environment, affordable housing, homelessness, and health and inequality.

"Creating better education opportunities is another area I want to address, and with the inclusivity we have again I believe we will also have a great democratic base.”

Swale's new mayor will be Sarah Stephen (SIA) while Cllr Ben J Martin (Lib Dem) will be her deputy.

Cllr Gibson will be chairman of policy and regeneration, with Cllr Baldock overseeing the planning committee.

Others heading up committees will be Cllr Angela Harrison (Lab) - housing and health, Cllr Bonney - regeneration and property, Cllr Rich Lehmann (Green) - environment, Cllr Simon Clark (Lab) - audit, Cllr Richard Palmer (SIA) - community, Cllr Derek Carnell (SI) - licensing and Cllr Ashley Wise (Lab) - standards.

Cllr Ken Ingleton (Con) is chairman of the Sheppey Area Committee, with Cllr Mark Tucker as vice-chairman.

Cllr Ingleton said: “Conservatives are the majority party on the Island and it is an honour to be re-elected as chairman of the Sheppey Area Committee.

"The committee is an opportunity for all Islanders and those who care about Sheppey to work together to make it the best place it can be."

The Sittingbourne Area Committee chairman is Cllr Mark Last (Lab) and the Eastern Area Committee chairman is Cllr Perkin.