Council leader stands down to 'shift role focus'
Cotswold District CouncilA council leader is stepping down after six years in the role to "shift focus" onto his other roles in local government.
Joe Harris said it had been the "honour of his life" to lead Cotswold District Council in Gloucestershire.
He will leave the position in spring but will remain as a district councillor in Cirencester and is seeking re-election to Gloucestershire County Council.
The Liberal Democrat Group will now begin a process to elect a new group leader at the council's annual meeting on 21 May.
Mr Harris was first elected to the authority at the age of 18 in 2011.
He led two successful election campaigns, taking the Liberal Democrat Group from opposition to majority control, becoming council leader in 2019.
Mr Harris said: "It has been the honour of my life to serve as Leader of Cotswold District Council and to lead the area in which I was raised."
He cited the green economic growth strategy, the delivery of "hundreds" of affordable homes and a restructuring programme to bring council staff back in-house as among the council's significant milestones during his tenure.
'Brilliant communities'
He also named the council's award-winning Crowdfund Cotswolds scheme to support local projects and good causes, as well as the council tax support scheme, as key achievements.
"I feel proud to have played a small part in delivering more affordable housing and supporting people with the cost of living, particularly when they needed it the most," he said.
"I am proud of our brilliant communities, and, of course, our dedicated council staff, whose efforts have been so important in overcoming many hurdles."
Mr Harris said he will now focus on his other roles, mainly as vice chair and leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at the Local Government Association (LGA) - an organisation which represents councils across England and Wales.
He said he wanted to ensure the Government's plans to replace district and county councils with large unitary authorities "is done properly and with local communities in mind".