Will Julie Dore stay on as leader of Sheffield Council for an extra year?

Councillor Julie Dore was due to step down after nine years as leader this May at the local elections, which have now been postponed for an entire year due to coronavirus.

Ms Dore has not responded to requests for clarity on whether she will continue in the role for a further year.

James Henderson, returning officer at the council, said: “Unfortunately we do not know yet what this means for existing vacant seats or for any new vacancies that may arise.

"We are however speaking to the cabinet office and Electoral Commission to seek clarification. As soon as we have any more information we will share this.”

Government decided to postpone the local elections until 2021 due to concerns about spreading the coronavirus that has, at the time of writing, already killed 55 people in the UK.

It followed advice from Bob Poser, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, who urged the government to postpone it until at least autumn this year.

In a letter he said: “The risks to delivery that have been identified are such that we cannot be confident that voters will be able to participate in the polls safely and confidently, nor that campaigners and parties will be able to put their case to the electorate.

“In this context we are also mindful that the chief executives of local authorities and their staff across the country are necessarily focussed on the ongoing management of the impacts Covid-19 is having on their localities.”

Local democracy reporters were due to meet with the leader today but her office said "we’re currently postponing all meetings" and that they would be in touch to rearrange or update with more information.

If Julie Dore decides to step down before the next elections, an interim leader will need to step in.

Coun Dore previously said: "My term ends this May and I have had to make a decision about carrying on for another four years. I feel that from a personal perspective, this is the right time for me to move on."