Council leader Chris Shaw to step down but rejects call to quit now 'for good of group'

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council will have a new leader in May – whatever the result of this year's local election.

Chris Shaw has announced he is to step down as leader of the ruling Labour group after four years at the helm of the authority.

But he is resisting calls from one of his Labour colleagues to hand over the reins immediately.

The Grimsby Telegraph can reveal that Councillor Peter Wheatley, who resigned from the cabinet last week, has urged Mr Shaw to step aside now "for the long term good of the group."

In his resignation letter, which was circulated to members of the Labour group and subsequently leaked to the Grimsby Telegraph, Mr Wheatley claimed that Mr Shaw's "confrontational and adversarial style" had become a "constant source of irritation" to colleagues and members of the public alike.

He added that if Mr Shaw stood down now, it would improve the chances of Labour candidates standing in May's election.

However, Mr Shaw insists he has no intention of stepping aside before his four-year term as leader expires, and says he is proud of the achievements of his Labour administration.

He said: "When I became leader of the Labour group back in 2004 I made a commitment that I would stay leader and put Labour back in control of the council and do a full four-year term.

"That comes to an end in May, and that is the end of the commitment I made. I have the view that as leader of the council you should take your belongings out in a box. You shouldn't be taken out of the council in a box.

"This was never a job for life. I have got other things in my life that I want to do. It has not been an easy job and I want to be able to sit back and have a bit of relaxing time. I have got two grandchildren in Reading who I never see and I want to spend more time with them."

Mr Shaw also revealed he would not be defending his seat in Sidney Sussex when it comes up for election in 2016.

"I made a commitment to my wife Debra that I would not stay in local government beyond my 60th birthday. I'm 60 in September and the reason I won't go earlier is I don't see why I should give the public the expense of a by-election."

Mr Shaw said leading the council at a time of public sector austerity had been a tough ask, but he said he was proud of the achievements of his Labour administration.

"The year we took over was the year the government started making vast cuts in council budgets. We have spent four years fire-fighting making sure the council can deliver services.

"I think we have done a good job in bringing investment to the area. Four years ago we had Centrica in a small portacabin on the docks. Go there now and you will see all the businesses we have got there and the new lock gates that we contributed to as a council.

"I think we have got a lot to be proud of. You don't get everything right, but anyone who says they get everything right gets nailed to a cross.

"As a leader I lead from the front. The first person out of the trenches is always me. My leadership style is not to sit at the back of the room being quiet. I say what I think and I think that has stood us in good stead."

Looking ahead to May's elections, Mr Shaw said: "I will be out there working with Labour activists to ensure we retain as many councillors and MPs as possible."

He added: "Labour has done a good job over the last four years and deserves to be able to carry on with that job.

"North East Lincolnshire is starting to turn a corner. We are starting to see investment, skills and jobs coming into the area, and that's been down to the hard work of the administration that we have got now."

And he had these words of advice for whoever succeeds him as group leader: "If you are going to be a leader, lead don't follow."