New Tamworth council leader to quit politics
TAMWORTH'S brand-new Council Leader has announced plans to quit politics just weeks after being elected to the top spot.
Councillor Bruce Boughton, who was made leader at a meeting of the full council last month, has revealed that he will not be standing as a candidate in the May 2010 elections.
"It may be a cliché, but I really would like to spend more time with my family," said Cllr Boughton told the Herald.
"I have taken the role of councillor very seriously and worked really hard on my council duties since I got elected in 2006.
"I don't think people appreciate the commitment being a councillor involves.
"I finish my full-time job at 5.30pm or thereabouts, and then four nights a week I go to the council for a couple of hours, arriving home often 8pm or later. Having served a four-year term by next May, I really feel I need a break to devote more time to my wife and sons, and to recharge my batteries."
Cllr Boughton was first elected on to the borough council in 1998.
The result of a by-election, he was voted into Spital Ward and was the only Conservative on the council and the town's first Conservative councillor for four years.
In May 2002 he was re-elected into Spital Ward but resigned a month later to take the position of head of training and development for Wal-Mart Canada.
Bruce returned to politics in 2006, when he was voted into Mercian Ward.
A year later he was elected onto the Cabinet as portfolio holder for economic development and enterprise, a position he held until June 2009, when he succeeded Cllr Jeremy Oates as Leader of the Council, following Cllr Oates' resignation.
Cllr Boughton was due to re-stand in Mercian Ward next May.
His decision to hang up his political hat means he will be Leader for just one year.
"I notified the then Leader of the Council Jeremy Oates a good couple of months ago that it was my intention to stand down, and I happened to notify the Conservative group on the Monday before Jeremy resigned on the Wednesday," Cllr Boughton explained.
"In the full knowledge that I would only serve one year, the Conservative group still selected me as Leader.
"I am deeply honoured by the confidence shown in me by group and will work hard and with focus to fulfil my year as Leader to the best of my ability.
"I do hope that some time in the future I am able to return as a councillor, as I have found making a contribution to the town very rewarding.
"I hope that taking time out will give me a refreshed perspective on what's good and not so good about life in Tamworth, and help me be an even better councillor at some point in the future."
3 Comments
by bryan, Tamworth
Wednesday, August 05 2009, 8:45AM
“Spot on, Paul, Tamwerf. The only people really interested in this non-story are councillors themselves; most of the population could not care tuppence about them, naval gazers for the most part. How they justify their illusory importance beggars belief when they gain office and the perks based on a handfull votes from the electorate. How we have gone from a situation where a councillor was part time and paid out of pocket expenses; to the present situation of them considering themselves professional and awarding themselves a fat income is ludicrous and a slap in the face for ordinary townspeople.”
by Paul, Tamwerf
Friday, July 17 2009, 1:20PM
“WHO NEXT!
Very good question Alan, with analysis like that you could get yourself a job on a tabloid newspaper, give the Star a call, they'll love you.
The reason they voted him in is because they knew he would be leaving in a year, enough time for them to maneuver themselves into a viable position when he stands down.
"The person selected as leader is of the utmost importance to the residents of Tamworth."
It isn't though, is it? It seems like it should be but when you think about it, it really isn't. They don't have that much power.
This really doesn't matter that much, nobody will lose any sleep over it and the consequences of this won't have any lasting negative effects on the population. It's the sort of thing politicos get excited about.”
by Alan R. Handley, Dosthill
Friday, July 17 2009, 9:17AM
“I totally agree, Cllr Boughton first responsibility is to his family.
Therefore, why did he accept the position as leader of the Council having previously made the decision to quit politics due to personal pressures?.
More importantly, why did his fellow Councillor's having knowledge of his future intentions, vote in favour of his nomination?.
His decision to quit as leader just 1 month after the Jeremy Oates debacle begs the question...WHO NEXT!
The person selected as leader is of the utmost importance to the residents of Tamworth.
This position as that of all Councillor's is paramount in safeguarding the interests and well being of the community.
I suspect, due to the current local & national economic crisis the majority of our Councillor's are laking in social & business acumen.
Is it the realisation of their inadequacies and the ever increasing scrutiny from the good folk of Tamworth, we have indeed run out of QUALITY candidates.
The position of Councilor carries a commitment, not a transient one to hop in and out of when the going gets tough.
Let's all hope our new leader demonstrates some experience, commitment & backbone, before Marmion House turns into a playground farce!
Alan R. Handley”