Weybridge councillor Tim Oliver announced as new leader of Surrey County Council's Conservative group

Councillor Tim Oliver is poised to take over the reins at Surrey County Council (SCC) after he was elected as the new leader of the county's Conservative group.

The county councillor for Weybridge will take over from outgoing council leader David Hodge, following a vote at a group meeting on Friday (November 23).

He beat off competition from fellow county councillors David Harmer and Graham Ellwood, as well as current council deputy leader John Furey for the post, after being nominated by his predecessor for the role.

Cllr Hodge formally announced his decision to stand down at a council meeting on November 13, having been leader of both the Conservative group and SCC for seven years.

He will remain leader of the county council until a full council meeting on December 11, where Cllr Oliver will be proposed by the majority Conservative group as his replacement.

Cllr Oliver's new position comes just six months after his election as leader of Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC).

Surrey Live understands he will immediately step down from his role at EBC and he will not put himself forward for re-election in the borough elections in May.

In his short tenure, the council obtained a controversial three-year High Court injunction banning travellers from setting up camps on public land.

Despite being a relatively new county councillor, he also holds the cabinet position for people, with responsibility for health and wellbeing in the county.

A solicitor by training, his company Parabis collapsed in November 2015, a year after he had stepped down as CEO to become the firm's deputy chairman.

Despite this, Cllr Oliver is still a wealthy man. The Lawyer reported in 2016 that he had made £16.9 million when private equity firm Duke Street invested in his company.

On his election as leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Oliver said: "I am delighted to have been elected leader of the Conservative group for Surrey County Council and I would like to thank my fellow Conservative county councillors for providing me with this honour.

"I pay tribute to the excellent work my predecessor David Hodge has done during his leadership.

"My focus now is on representing the group and working to serve the residents of Surrey to the best my abilities."

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