The leader and deputy leader of a council in Derbyshire have announced their plans to step down from their respective roles.
Cllr Steve Fritchley and Cllr Duncan McGregor announced it was their intention to retire from their positions at Bolsover District Council’s meeting at the end of the month.
The pair have a combined 90 years of experience in local government and said they entered office as a team and would be leaving as a team.
“I am thankful for the support given to me, but, there comes a time for change,” Cllr Fritchley said.
“I am retiring as leader as soon as you have selected a new one. I want to place on record my thanks to Cllr McGregor for his support and partnership.”
The duo were appointed leader and deputy leader following district council elections in 2019.
The authority was in no overall control and they gained the support of independent councillors to form a cross-party cabinet.
Cllr McGregor said: “It has been my pleasure to stand with Steve for the past six years as his deputy.
“What we have achieved in such a short space of time should not be underestimated and everything we said we would do we have done for the benefit of our communities.”
Highlights of their six-year tenure include bringing burgundy bin services in-house, investing £20m in six independent living schemes, investing £36m in new council properties, bidding for £15m for regeneration projects, guiding the authority through the pandemic and implementing new CCTV monitoring in the district.
Cllr Fritchley added that the council “needed to be prepared” for forthcoming restructuring in local government.
“I have said for years we are over-governed and something needed to change and that change is coming – and fast,” he said.
“Within the next few years, it is likely that Bolsover District Council will no longer exist and will become part of a much bigger authority with the directly elected mayor for the East Midlands holding the purse strings and wielding the power.”
A new leader will be appointed at a full council meeting on 29th January 2025.