NEW rules have had to be introduced at South Cambridgeshire District Council to ensure it does not have to wait until May to elect a new leader. Under the council s current rules people can resign, but cannot be replaced until the annual council meeting

NEW rules have had to be introduced at South Cambridgeshire District Council to ensure it does not have to wait until May to elect a new leader.

Under the council's current rules people can resign, but cannot be replaced until the annual council meeting in May.

Without an amendment to the rules, the authority would be unable to replace Councillor David Bard who quit as council leader last month.

However, with the addition of new standing orders, a replacement leader was expected to be elected tomorrow.

A council spokesman said: "The proposed new clause will allow for a leadership vacancy to be filled at any meeting of full council throughout the year."

Cllr Bard stood down after just eight months in the job as he wanted to concentrate on his work for the Open University. Fellow Conservative Cllr Ray Manning, a 60-year-old fruit farmer from Willingham, has expressed an interest in taking over the role.

If elected, Cllr Manning's biggest task would be to see through the 9,000 home development at Northstowe.