Councillor Elaine Williams has been selected as the Reform UK group leader at Walsall Council following the party's landslide local election victory. In her first interview since taking control, she revealed that she has already saved £109,000 of taxpayers' money.
Cost-Cutting Measures
The Short Heath ward member achieved the savings by reducing the number of cabinet members from ten to seven, cutting one committee, and downsizing the mayoral welcome party. "We went back to the Mayor's parlour and had tea and cake," she said, explaining how they avoided the usual expensive celebration.
Net Zero Spending Under Fire
Williams, who moved to Walsall from West London in 2011, has criticised the council's £23.462 million spending on net zero policies. "I believe it's just an extra expense to the taxpayer," she said, questioning whether the money was being spent on "feasibility studies" and "consultations that go nowhere."
The council leader expressed scepticism about climate change policies, stating: "Climate change is an interesting thing because if you look over time it has always changed, it goes around in cycles." She also said she would "personally never have an electric car, ever" due to environmental concerns about batteries.
National Anthem Promise Yet to Be Fulfilled
Reform UK's election promise to play the National Anthem before council meetings has yet to be implemented, with Williams saying the group needs to check whether it requires full council approval. The party won control of Walsall Council by a landslide last month.
Residents' Concerns
Williams attributed Reform's success to residents feeling unheard by the previous administration, saying: "Residents don't feel they were being listened to by the previous administration." She added that people wanted change after seeing Walsall's decline over recent years.
