Cllr Colin Barrow

Cllr Colin Barrow has announced his intention to stand down as Leader of Westminster Council.

Cllr Colin Barrow said:

"I made the decision in the middle of last year to step down when I reached 60, to devote some time to writing and lecturing.

"2012 marks both my sixtieth year and four years as Leader of the Council, so it is the right time to make way for a successor.

"Public service addresses simultaneously the many and the few, and in the past four years with you we have achieved a great deal in Westminster.

"For our million visitors we have made significant improvements in the City - Piccadilly, Leicester Square, Exhibition Road, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and a host of smaller schemes.

"For our residents we have kept the city clean and safe, and frozen the Council tax every year. We have raised educational standards, and redesigned and sustained social care when many others have merely cut services. We have started the most ambitious housing renewal and building programme in central London.

"We have been a major influence on the new Government's thinking, especially on family policy and total local public service budgets and the Tri Borough programme illustrates both our national leadership role and the committed, innovative and effective work that I have seen Westminster officers and contractors undertake every day.

"There is never a right or easy time to depart, and it is inevitable that people will ascribe my decision to the parking controversy. To the contrary, part of my reasoning for deferring this announcement until now was because I was determined to see that through.  It would have been only too easy to leave that one for my successor.

"It has been a privilege and pleasure to lead such an outstanding council, with such a talented group of elected members and officers"

Mike More, the Chief Executive of Westminster City Council said:

"Colin Barrow has informed me of his intention to stand down as Leader of the Council and the Majority Party. This will take place at the Annual Budget setting meeting on 7th March 2012.

"The Majority Party will now conduct an election for a new Group Leader who will formally be elected as the new Leader of the Council at the start of the Budget meeting on 7th March. 

"Cllr Barrow will remain Leader of the Council until 7th March.

"For four years I have enjoyed working closely with Colin. Over this period the Council has successfully delivered ground breaking initiatives like Family Recovery,  Tri Borough and the renewal of the West End which have improved people's lives in the heart of London. Colin has also led the authority through a testing period where we have made significant savings while retaining most of our frontline services.

"We all wish him well for the future and will continue to work together over the two months, particularly on finalising the 2012-13 budget and the start of the Community Budget pilot."

Cllr Colin Barrow is stepping down as Leader but is yet to decide on his future as a Westminster councillor.

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