13.12.18
Salisbury City Council leader steps down due to job’s impact on personal life
The leader of Salisbury City Council is to step down from the role citing the job’s impact on his personal life behind the decision.
Cllr Matthew Dean, who has been in the role since April 2017 and leader of the Conservative group for five years, notified councillors of his resignation yesterday. However, he has said he will remain in the role as councillor both in the city and for Wiltshire.
In a statement reported by the Salisbury Journal, Cllr Dean said that he felt “very much that I’ve lost any right to have a private life.”
He noted: “I think I do want to be a bit more of a private citizen really, and a normal parish councillor. I’ve been very proud to lead the council.
“I’ve been the leader of the council for a very difficult time for the city with Novichok. We’re coming out of that now and I think it would be good for a fresh face to be brought on for the next steps.”
The local news organisation also reported that Cllr Dean is also being threatened with legal action to recover almost £25,000 of allegedly unpaid rent on the Duke of York pub he operates, however Cllr Dean strongly denies the allegations.
The Conservative group for the city council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to choose a new leader.
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