THE district council has been remoulded in Health Concern's image with the election of new top brass.

The party, formed in 1999 to fight the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital, seized control of Wyre Forest District Council following the May 2 elections and at last Wednesday's full council meeting appointed Health Concern councillors in top spots.

Former coalition partners the Liberals, the Liberal Democrats and the Tories now join Labour in opposition.

Liz Davies, the leader of the district party, was confirmed as the council leader, taking over from the Liberal's Mike Oborski. She said: "It will be very hard work and I will give everything to the council."

New Health Concern mayor of Kidderminster Ken Stokes, commended by Mrs Davies as having "a lot of experience in local government", will continue as deputy leader.

Chairman of the council, Health Concern councillor Frank Baillie - applauded by Mr Oborski for his "considerable common sense and the bluntness and frankness with which he expresses himself" - stepped aside in favour of former vice chairman and fellow Health Concern member Gordon Hinton.

He said: "It's an honour. I've only been in politics for a short time but I will serve this time and serve it well. I've had an excellent grounding from Frank Baillie."

And the new vice chairman is Pat Rimell, who is a health care assistant at the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

But the backslapping was interrupted by Labour group leader Jamie Shaw, who complained that his party was "dramatically under-represented" on the scrutiny and overview committees and task groups compared with the council seats the party won on May 2.

Liberal councillor Fran Oborski added: "It is the balance between Conservatives, Liberals and Labour that is all wrong."

Mrs Davies "accepted" the complaints and an amendment was passed covering the period until the June 13 by-election for the late Steve Roberts's Sutton Park seat to amend the allocation of seats on the overview and scrutiny committees.