Who will be the next leader of Sheffield Council?

Coun Julie Dore is standing down and will depart in January as new chief executive Kate Josephs arrives.

She had already announced her intention to leave when her term as councillor came to an end at last May’s local elections but polling day was cancelled when the pandemic hit.

She carried on as leader to steer the council through the first few months of the crisis but has now decided the time is right to go. She will remain as a Park and Arbourthorne councillor until May 2021.

A new leader will be selected by the Labour Group on December 7 and will be ratified by full council in January. They will probably reshuffle the Cabinet too so there could be several changes ahead.

One of the frontrunners is Coun Bob Johnson, Cabinet member for transport and development. He is at the helm of some of the biggest, and most controversial, policies in the city including the Clean Air Zone and Local Plan so is well versed in major decision making.

A natural contender would be deputy leader Coun Terry Fox, who previously mounted a leadership challenge against Coun Dore. In charge of the Big Conversation, he was tasked with responding to the It’s Our City referendum, which wants to move away from the strong leader model to a committee system.

Another possibility is Coun Bryan Lodge, a former Cabinet member for environment, although he had responsibility for overseeing the controversial tree felling programme and Labour may be looking for a fresh start.

An outsider is Coun Sophie Wilson, a Parliamentary candidate in the General Election last December. A vocal supporter of Momentum and several trade unions, she may be popular with the membership.

It is understood Coun Jack Scott, who has been reinstated by the Labour Party after being suspended for 21 months, has ruled himself out.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.