THE Conservative Group on West Devon Borough Council has a new leader. After seven years in the post, Cllr Dick Eberlie has stood down. Following a leadership election within the group, Cllr James McInnes, who represents the Lew Valley Ward, has been elected leader. Cllr McInnes said: ?This is a tremendous honour. Cllr Eberlie has been a brilliant leader of our group and an asset to the whole council. He will be a hard act to follow. I intend to operate along similar lines by working with fellow councillors for the benefit of the residents of West Devon.? Cllr Eberlie said: ?This is the right moment for a younger man with bags of energy and lots of new ideas to assume leadership of the group. I am delighted to be handing over to James. ?He brings to the task, long experience with the Devon National Farmers? Union and important links with the county council. The Conservative Group is the largest group on the council. There is a hung council with no group in overall control.