THE former owner of an A1(M) service station is set to be elected as leader of a council serving a population of 602,700, after the ruling Conservative group approved his nomination.

Catterick Bridge councillor Carl Les, who has served on North Yorkshire County Council for 18 years alongside performing numerous community roles, is expected to be elected to replace Bedale councillor John Weighell, who is stepping down from the role after nearly 14 years, at a meeting of the council next week.

A Conservative group meeting saw Cllr Les, who sold Leeming Bar Services last year after winning a lengthy battle for permission for it to become an official motorway service station, unopposed for the post.

The meeting also saw butcher and Thirsk councillor Gareth Dadd, who has been executive member for highways, overcome competition from Northallerton councillor Tony Hall to be elected deputy leader, a role that includes managing the authority's budget.

Cllr Les has served as a member of Cllr Weighell’s executive throughout his leadership and was latterly his deputy, and said he would strive to keep taxes as low as possible, while protecting the vulnerable residents in the county.

Cllr Les, who is also a Hambleton District councillor and a governor at three schools, said: "I am a great believer in leaving people to spend their own money.

“We still have £74m in savings to find – that is what the Government expects of us – and that means delivering services in different ways.

"There are no sacred cows, we have to look at everything we do – but we must continue to protect vulnerable children and help the elderly stay at home for longer as most wish.

“We must also look at the devolution being offered to local government and find out what that will mean for an authority like North Yorkshire."