TAMESIDE’S Conservative group of councillors will have a new deputy leader.
And Ashton Hurst Cllr Dan Costello will not be standing at next year’s election.
The Tories’ current number two has represented the ward since 2021, when he defeated then incumbent Leigh Drennan.
However, he will not continue beyond May 2026, when the borough next goes to the polls.
That means more immediately a new deputy leader for the Conservatives will be named on Monday, April 5.
Of the seven sitting councillors, it is understood Hyde Godley’s Andrea Colbourne is the favourite to support their head, Cllr Doreen Dickinson.
But Cllr Costello will not be seeing his time out quietly.
In a statement, he said: “I informed the Conservative group that I would not seek another term as a councillor and would therefore step down at the end of my current term, in May 2026.
“It is right that the group has leadership that will take it into the next election, so a new deputy leader will be appointed and I wish whoever is appointed every success and offer my full support for the year ahead.
“I’m not disappearing just yet!
“Over the next year, I will continue to serve the residents of Ashton Hurst and Tameside to the very best of my ability.
“Representing the community in which I live has been, and continues to be, a great honour.”