THE city council's new leader today outlines his vision for Worcester's future - including international recognition for its heritage, more better-paid, high quality jobs and securing the football club's future.

Councillor Marc Bayliss has spoken of his "great honour" in becoming the city's new elected figurehead - just the third man in a decade to run the Guildhall.

And the 42-year-old, an economist who is born and bred in Worcestershire, today outlines his main priorities for Worcester, including:

- Scouring the entire city to look at possible alternative sites other than Perdiswell for Worcester City FC, should that bid fall apart

- Finally grasping the nettle on Worcester's incredible history by securing worldwide recognition for its heritage, particularly as the birthplace for democracy and its role in the English civil war

- Closer work with investors to secure better jobs in the city, building on the likes of Sanctuary Housing which decided to base its HQ in Worcester

- Ensuring Worcester's new £10.4 million swimming pool at Perdiswell, due to open in early 2017, is delivered on time and budget

- Closer working across the political divide with other parties to see how councillors from other parties can all play a greater role

Councillor Bayliss, who runs his own research firm, was born and schooled in Redditch, growing up in Worcestershire.

He got an an economics degree from the University of Wolverhampton and an MBA from Worcester's university before finding work in the city in 1996, living in St Peter's and now Warndon villages.

Married with two children and two step-children, he got elected onto the authority in 2002, becoming deputy leader in 2012 before taking over the top role from Simon Geraghty on Tuesday night.

He revealed he wants to "reach out" across the chamber by having less party politics in Worcester - saying most councillors have far more in common than what may divide them.

"I don't want argument for argument's sake, politics in this chamber has at times been too partisan, nobody has reached across the aisle to the other side," he said.

"There will still be many areas where I continue to disagree with Labour, but my desire is to seek areas where there is common ground and not look to create artificial divides.

"Everyone is doing this to make Worcester a better place."

But he has also coined an optimistic note about Worcester's future, saying he is determined to secure "international recognition for its beauty".

During last night’s full council meeting he insisted most other parts of the UK "would give their high teeth" to have Worcester's history - something he expanded on today inside the Guildhall.

"Worcester is blessed with so much history, it's something we've got to make more of," he said.

He has also cited his great pride at becoming leader - saying he will work tirelessly to get it right.

"I'm very proud to have been elected as leader -I will work hard for the benefit of our great city and the people who live and work here," he said.

He also said more better paid jobs was a key theme - with the city council leading the charge for corporate investment into sites like the Worcester 6 technology park off Junction six of the M5.

He insisted his leadership will focus on “extending opportunities for Worcester people”, pointing to work being good “for the body and the soul” but not enough jobs paying good salaries.

"We need to make sure the right sites are available and hold out for the right employers - particularly head offices and high-tech manufacturing," he said.

“Sanctuary has its headquarters here, when you look at a company like that you don’t necessarily immediately think Worcester would be where their HQ is based.

“I was told they came here because senior managers at Sanctuary felt Worcester was a nice place to work, with the quality of our environment.

“There’s a fantastic quality of life here and we’ve got to trade on that.”

The Tory, who first entered Worcester’s political scene for Labour before a series of disagreements led to him quitting the party, told your Worcester News he was adamant all the city’s parties can work together on creating a better future – picking up on his predecessor’s ability to seek consensus wherever possible.

“We are different people, and I guess our leadership will be different, you’ll have to see how it goes and judge for yourself,” he said.

“But I said last night how I’ve got huge shoes to fill, Simon (Geraghty) has this massive ability to work with the grain of people,” he said.

“I can’t do everything as leader, I think if you try and do too much you fall over, and I’ve got a great team around me – but I’m a democrat at heart and I want to look at the role all councillors can play in making sure they make a positive contribution to this city.”

With the work of his company, Worcester Research, and his role in the senior Conservative cabinet at Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Bayliss has his hands full – but says he’s used to a gruelling schedule.

“I’m already often up very early working on things, and then again late into the night,” he said.

“But it’s fantastic to be in this position. As leader you do realise that the buck stops with you, it’s a much wider brief than before. I’m very proud.”

He still has one vacant seat among his city council cabinet team, but today said no decisions have been made as to which Conservative will be joining the top table.

Councillor Bayliss is set to hand his title of cabinet member for economic prosperity, city centre and the riverside to a fresh pair of eyes while he concentrates on being leader.

During last night’s meeting he paid more tributes to Councillor Geraghty, calling him a “true friend of Worcester”.

“Few people can do this job for 10 years and make as few enemies as Simon has, that’s a sign of his integrity as a man,” he said.

He also said his vision was of a “confident, competent council”, and called himself “hugely fortunate” to be in a position to take over.

Labour group leader Councillor Adrian Gregson said over the years he’d “seen off three Tory leaders”, saying to Councillor Bayliss “I wish you all the best for the next three months” in some pre-election chiding.

Councillor Alan Amos called the new leader “intelligent, bright and able to master a brief quickly”, while Lucy Hodgson said: “I know you’ll do a fantastic job for this city.”

COUNCIL WORKERS ARE SCOURING “ACROSS” WORCESTER FOR POSSIBLE NEW FOOTBALL CLUB HOME

TODAY Councillor Bayliss revealed the council was scouring "across the city" to look at possible alternative sites for Worcester City FC - with the saga taking another twist.

As your Worcester News exclusively revealed two weeks ago, the authority's managing director Sheena Ramsey privately told club officials before Christmas that a hunt had started for "alternative sites" to Perdiswell.

The supporter's trust, desperate to get Worcester City FC back home from its Kidderminster exile, is still hoping to resolve its planning application for a 4,000-plus capacity ground at Perdiswell park, but it is mired in complex technical issues.

With the land still designated as public open space, Councillor Bayliss yesterday said one of his first tasks was to ensure the hunt for possible alternatives is top of his agenda - revealing the search is city-wide.

He also revealed that he has contacted club chairman Anthony Hampson, with the duo now set to talk it through in detail once the work is concluded.

"It's one of my early ambitions to find a suitable site that's good for the club, without 'pre-judging' the Perdiswell planning application in any way," he said.

"I am very keen to work with the club, we've done a scan of other potential sites and that piece of work is still ongoing with our officers.

"I am not saying Perdiswell is off the agenda at all, but that it's prudent to look at other options to see if we can help the club - it needs certainty as soon as possible."