West Somerset Conservatives resign (From This is The West Country)

West Somerset Conservatives resign

5:44pm Wednesday 16th January 2008

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WEST Somerset Council's Conservative leader and vice-chairman have resigned from their positions and will stand down as of Feb-ruary 1.

Cllr Christine Lawrence has been leader of the group since 2006 and was leader of the council until May last year.

Her deputy, Cllr Roger Webber, will also be standing down.

Cllr Tim Taylor, a former headmaster and chief executive, will take over as the newly elected Conservative leader-designate.

"I've really enjoyed being able to serve the community and I'm really proud of the projects we were able to deliver during my term, and especially of the groundwork for the new hospital," said Cllr Lawrence.

"But I now want to be able to give more time to issues in my ward and to my responsibilities as a county councillor."

Both Cllr Lawrence and Cllr Webber came under fire from the council's deputy leader, Simon Stokes, in December, whe he accused them of allowing the authority to be "asset stripped" while in charge.

He said there was clear "political accountability", and blamed the finance portfolio holder and his former leader for allowing the council to become so overspent.

The pair were then called to resign over their handling of the council's finances.

In response, Cllr Lawrence said: "I was not overly impressed by Simon's way of speaking and felt it was a little bit unnecessary, but it's his way of doing things, not mine.

"The truth will out itself eventually."

Cllr Lawrence said her decision to resign as Conservative leader had nothing to do with Cllr Stokes' comments, but she felt it was time to let someone else take over.

"I had always intended to hand over to someone else in May, but on reflection I felt that giving my successor the chance to put a new team in place before the annual meeting was sensible."

Cllr Taylor acknowledged Cllr Lawrence's and Cllr Webber's hard work with the Con-servatives, adding: "The district owes them an enormous debt of gratitude that I'm sure will become more obvious over time."

Cllr Webber was unavailable for comment as the County Gazette went to press.

Both Cllr Lawrence and Cllr Webber are continuing their work as district councillors.

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