Leader of Purbeck District Council Stands
Down
At the conclusion of his Budget speech at the
meeting of Purbeck District Council on 26th February, Councillor
Bill Trite announced his intention to stand down as Leader of the
Council with effect from the end of the meeting
This was the tenth annual budget which Cllr
Trite had introduced as Leader, a position he has held continuously
for the last nine years. He also relinquishes
the leadership of the ruling Conservative Group, a post to
which he has been re-elected by his Tory colleagues since 1996.
Councillor Trite remarked: “I think that's enough for
now.”
Noting that another round of District Council
elections were due in May, and to give his successor a clear run
through the months leading up to them, Cllr Trite said: "It's
been my privilege to lead Purbeck Conservatives through seven
elections in the last twelve years, and if I'm going to stand
aside it must not be any closer to the forthcoming
contests.
“I want to thank my Conservative colleagues
who have supported me during this time and, indeed, members of the
Liberal Democrat Opposition, with whom I have had many interesting
debates and disagreements. I also thank Council staff, who
have been unfailingly supportive and helpful to me,
especially our Chief Executive Steve Mackenzie, in whom
I think we are very fortunate".
Reviewing the last nine years, Cllr Trite
said:”Purbeck District Council has had a very difficult
financial course to steer, with Government financial support
falling further behind cost inflation. This has put great strain on
the Council Tax, but by making savings, improving efficiency and
pursuing value-for-money, cuts in Council services have been
avoided. At the same time, the Council Tax has been kept
at a level still significantly below the national District Council
average.
“I am pleased that former council
tenants have benefited from the transfer of council housing to
a Housing Trust, that the Council is now debt-free,
that the high District recycling rate has been
achieved at relatively low cost and that the management
structure of the Council has recently been successfully
streamlined.”
Councillor Trite intends to remain an active
member of Purbeck District Council and Swanage Town Council.