Council leader Mehboob Khan was questioned last night over his decision to step down for a job in London.
Kirklees Full Council met for the first time since Clr Khan announced he was leaving his top post.
Four of the eight questions to the leader and Cabinet members related to Clr Khan’s decision to quit as leader – with two more questions asking if he’s happy to “walk away” from issues such as the LDF and loss of local authority schools to academies.
Clr Phil Scott (Almondbury Lib Dem) asked if Clr Khan would resign as chairman of the West Yorkshire Fire Authority.
Clr Khan replied: “I believe it’s important for myself to have discussions with members of West Yorkshire Fire Authority to determine any role that I should have in relation to the governance of that body.”
Clr Nicola Turner (Colne Valley Lib Dem) asked Clr Khan to explain why he had chosen to step down.
Clr Khan explained the “honour and privilege” to represent Kirklees and said he takes pride in what schools have achieved during his term, adding: “I now believe it is the right time for this council to have a change of leadership and it will bring a different focus.”
Clr Turner asked if he would remain a local councillor and Clr Khan replied: “The honest answer is that a decision will be taken in consultation with the Greenhead Labour Party branch as they selected me as their candidate.
“Until that conversation had taken place I am not in a position to answer it.”
Clr Cahal Burke, Lindley Lib Dem, said that if Clr Khan hadn’t resigned he’d be calling for it due to the threat of green and open spaces to development caused by the failure of the Local Development Framework and Clr Khan “walking away from his responsibilities.”
Time ran out for all the questions to be asked, with noise and jeering from all sides and the Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Martyn Bolt, calling time.
Clr Khan will step down as council leader at the end of February to take up a new post as a political advisor for London councils.
He will continue as a Greenhead ward councillor for the foreseeable future.
The Labour Party will now have to select a new leader and it will be for Full Council to vote if the Labour leader should become council leader.
