TONY Johnson is set for a second term as the leader of Herefordshire Council.

At a meeting last night (Thurs) Cllr Johnson was elected unopposed as leader of the council’s Conservative group.

He will be formally proposed as council leader at the first meeting of the new full council next Friday (May 22).

Cllr Johnson was tipped to stay as leader having steered the group through survival as a minority administration to return with a five seat majority over its combined opposition - and 17 seats ahead of its nearest rivals It’s Our County (IOC).

He won his Hope End ward with a majority of 390  over IOC rival Karen Waller.

Cllr Johnson has enjoyed a rapid rise to the top since winning the Hope End by election with a 52 vote majority in 2010.

He was returned in Hope End at the council election a year later, finishing second in a field of six when the ward returned two councillors.

When then council leader John Jarvis stood down for health reasons in 2013, Cllr Johnson, then cabinet member for financial management, was chosen as his successor.

Opposition groups could vote against Cllr Johnson as council leader or abstain from next Friday’s proposal.

But the Tory majority makes the appointment a formality.

Once confirmed, Cllr Johnson is expected to name his deputy leader – if required – and cabinet line-up.

 Work is currently underway on the proportionate assigning of councillors to specific committees.

 The make-up of the committees will also be confirmed next Friday.