A SHAKE-UP of the city council has seen the Conservatives take hold of all the key positions of power following the party's election victory earlier this month.

A number of historic gains on May 6 saw the Conservatives take control of power on Worcester City Council for the first time in five years with a majority of one.

Following the victory, Conservative council leader Marc Bayliss took the opportunity to capitalise on the party gaining an overall majority at the Guildhall.

Cllr Bayliss was re-appointed as leader of the council on Tuesday (May 18) with Cllr Chris Mitchell appointed as deputy leader.

All of the council's committees will now also be chaired by Conservative councillors with councillors from the other parties moving into vice-chair roles.

During the meeting, Cllr Bayliss said: "The current constitution was written and framed during a period of no overall control, the council and the electorate have given a mandate to my party and given us a majority on the council and I therefore think it is entirely reasonable for the deputy leader to come from the ruling group."

Whilst the council was under no overall control, power was shared between the main parties with Labour's Adrian Gregson serving as deputy leader and Cllr Louis Stephen, leader of the council's Green group, chairing the important decision-making policy and resources committee.

Changes to the council's constitution, which were approved by councillors at an extraordinary meeting at the Guildhall on Tuesday (May 18), will see Cllr Bayliss now chair the policy and resources committee.

Cllr Chris Mitchell moves away from chairing the council's planning committee and will be replaced by Conservative colleague Cllr Mike Johnson.

A new health and wellbeing committee has also been created which will be chaired by Cllr Louise Griffiths.