WILL Quince is to become leader of the Conservative group after just nine months on Colchester Council.

Trainee solicitor Mr Quince, 29, will succeed Kevin Bentley. He beat fellow Prettygate councillor, Sue Lissimore, to the post.

Mr Quince moved to Colchester in 2008, when he was selected as his party’s Parliamentary candidate against Lib Dem MP Bob Russell.

After his General Election defeat, he continued to be active on the Colchester political scene, gaining a council seat at the last elections.

Mr Quince said: “I feel privileged and honoured to have been chosen as leader. I have an excellent team and there is a huge amount of talent within the group.”

He added: “I am a believer in collective decision-making and am in no way dictatorial, although I know there are times when firm decisions have to be made.

“At the end of the day, it is about delivering good services to Colchester and providing taxpayers with value for money.”

Mr Bentley is also a prominent member of Essex County Council, but denied his decision to stand aside was to allow him more time to pursue his role as county councillor for economic development and waste and recycling.

Mr Bentley, 47, said it was an unwritten rule the Conservative group leader stood down after three years.

He said: “I am first and foremost a Colchester councillor. I am a Colchester person.

“I take valuable knowledge from the borough to the county, and from the county, back to the borough.

“The advantage the county council role brings is you have more opportunities to influence Government ministers, bringing benefits to the county and borough.” He will continue as Birch and Winstree borough councillor.

Mr Bentley added: “I am a political animal and feel it important to hold the administration to account when they get it wrong.

“But the most important part of the job is to serve the community and to give it a voice.”

Mr Bentley, who was elected to Colchester Council in 2002, has been leader of the opposition Tory group leader for three years.

He will remain leader until after the council elections in May, when he hands over to Mr Quince.

The Conservatives have 24 seats on Colchester Council, two less than the Liberal Democrats, who rule in a coalition with Labour and Highwoods Independent parties.