Tributes are paid to council deputy chief David Billson
The deputy leader of South Staffordshire Council David Billson has died after battling a brain tumour.
Colleagues and friends today paid tribute to Councillor Billson, aged 69, saying he would be sadly missed by everyone. The leader of the district council Brian Edwards said: "We all thought he was making a recovery.
"It's really hit us for six. I had a very close working relationship with him.
"He was a very conscientious and good councillor.
"Three weeks ago he was at a cabinet meeting so it's a shock."
Fellow cabinet member Councillor Robert Reade said: "He was an excellent member of the council."
Councillor Billson, who lived in Kingswood near Wolverhampton and was a keen Wolves fan, was first elected on to the district council in 2003 to represent Perton East.
At the time of his death on Friday afternoon, he was cabinet member for strategic services.
He leaves behind wife Maureen and a son.
Councillor Billson was chairman of the licensing committee from 2004-2007 and was on the Bilbrook Playing Fields Committee as well as the Four Ashes Energy Recovery Facility Local Liaison Committee.
He also represented Perton on Staffordshire County Council and had done since 2009 and sat on the planning committee.
He was also on Perton Parish Council.
Cabinet member for public health protection services on the district council, Roger Lees, said: "David has been a hardworking member of the cabinet for six years.
"He was well-known in the area and well-liked on the council.
"He was a popular councillor."
Councillor Billson was a Staffordshire County Police middleweight boxing champion in 1963, founder of Compton Boys Club and received a West Midlands Police award for community services.
