Former police officer Helen Purnell took control of Bracknell Forest council on Wednesday and dedicated the administration to protecting women and girls.
Her determination was palpable as the deputy leader vowed that ‘something positive’ should come out of the ‘awful events’ that led to the mayor’s son committing rape of a teenage girl in July 2024.
But the Conservative leader was unimpressed, citing the ‘immense reputational damage’ to the council.
Cllr Purnell, expected to be crowned as leader in the next few weeks stood at the podium, visibly angry that a man trusted by the council to be a taxi driver and mayor’s consort had committed an abhorrent crime.
She said: “Something positive must come out of these awful events. It is in our gift to make a difference for the next generation.
“I’m setting new priorities for this administration: tackling violence against women and girls, whilst also supporting boys and men to challenge and overcome harmful forms of toxic masculinity.”
The former detective constable with Thames Valley Police is also the mum of a five-year-old.
She said: “As a mother to a young daughter, and a former police officer, I feel this fight to protect women and girls deeply.
“I look at my daughter, and yes, I worry about social media, about phones in schools, about the rise of misogyny.
“I am so proud to have led the development of the council’s domestic violence strategy, and I will continue to work with all my cabinet colleagues to make sure tackling this issue is a priority.
“It is not only about both protecting women and girls, it is about finding a different story for our young men.
“This a societal task, and I will work with anyone who shares my commitment to strengthen the mutual respect which is the core of our community and the cornerstone of ending the scourge of sexual violence.
“The Labour group under my leadership is as energetic, focused and as committed as ever to delivering for residents and strengthening our community.
“We inherited a council whose core spending was gutted by decades of cuts and, undaunted, have put in the hard yards turning around our special needs (‘SEND’) system, delivering ‘outstanding’ Children’s Services, improving public health, and putting record investment into our roads.”
Conservative leader Gareth Barnard said: “I am really upset by this. There is immense reputational damage to this council. The institution of the mayor is really important.”
During the meeting, the mayor announced that an extraordinary meeting of the council would be convened in the next few weeks to formally elect a new leader.
