Wolverhampton Council leader Roger Lawrence to stand down after 15 years
The leader of Wolverhampton Council has announced he is to stand down later this year.
Councillor Roger Lawrence will step down after the city's local elections in May, having first led the council in 2002.
WATCH: Roger Lawrence delivers emotional resignation speech
The 67-year-old will continue as a councillor for St Peter's until May 2020, when his term comes to an end.
Councillor Lawrence made the announcement during an emotional speech at a full council meeting tonight.
He told the Express & Star: “After more than three decades serving this great city, 15 as leader of the council, I feel that now’s the right time to make way for fresh leadership.
“I will not be putting my name forward during the leadership vote that follows city local elections on May 2. I will, however, continue to serve local residents in St Peter’s ward until May 2020.
“The challenges the city and our wider region face are significant. Brexit uncertainty, further cuts to public services, wider political, social and economic changes – they’re all long-term issues and I feel the time is right for new thinking, energy and focus and a longer-term commitment that I am unable to make.
“These challenges are not insurmountable, but they do mean that the council and the city need to continue to pull together, as one, to overcome them.
" And we’ve shown many times before that we can do this. I’m immensely proud of some of our big achievements. Record levels of investment and a new £150million Interchange connecting train, tram, bus and car.
“One billion pound investment and thousands of new jobs at i54 – but only because we reached out across the political divide, had the courage to seize the moment and took calculated risks to invest in growth and jobs.
"Regeneration in Bilston with new facilities and millions of pounds of investment in new homes.
"Our ground-breaking Wolves at Work partnership with DWP which has helped 3,600 local people find jobs and is seen as best practice regionally.”
“None of these achievements could have been delivered without the support of very many people, council employees, local residents and businesses, city and regional partners and I want to pay tribute to them and say thank you for what you have done for this city over the last decade.
“I’m glad that I’ve had the opportunity to serve this great city and I hope make a positive difference to the lives of local people.
"There are many talented and dedicated councillors who can now pick up the baton for a new generation and the council has very solid and professional senior officer leadership in place to build on strong foundations.
“I firmly believe that this place and it’s fantastic people have a bright future and I look forward to seeing our city go from strength-to-strength under new leadership.”
The city's Labour group will hold a leadership election at its AGM in early May.
Councillor Lawrence was first elected to the council in 1983 and has been the authority’s leader since it came under Labour control in 2011.
He is credited with leading the authority through one of its most challenging periods, and was last year named as council leader of the year at a national awards.
Councillor Lawrence previously led the council from 2002 to 2008, having been elected as Labour group leader following the retirement of Norman Davies.
He saw off a challenge to his leadership last year from Fallings Park councillor and former Mayor Ian Brookfield.
Councillor Lawrence will also stand down from his role as the region's transport chief on the West Midlands Combined Authority.
