Council chief steps down as deputy leader - as deputy PCC role row continues (From Bucks Free Press)

Council chief steps down as deputy leader - as deputy PCC role row continues

12:06pm Friday 14th December 2012 in News By Simon Farr

WYCOMBE District Council has a new look Cabinet after Councillor David Carroll relinquished his role as deputy leader.

Cllr Carroll was appointed Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld's deputy last week and he has now decided to step down as WDC’s executive deputy leader.

But he will continue in his role as ward member for Greater Hughenden and as a county councillor for Hazlemere.

Cllr Roger Wilson has been promoted to deputy until the next Annual Council Meeting in May and he will also keep hold of his Cabinet member for finance brief.

Cllr John Richards will take over from Cllr Carroll’s as Cabinet member for housing, with a new spokesman for property to be appointed soon.

Cllr Arif Hussain remains the authority’s Executive Deputy Leader.

Council Leader Cllr Alex Collingwood said: "I and Cllr Arif Hussain and the rest of Cabinet look forward to working with Cllr Wilson and Cllr Richards in their new roles."

But the row over Cllr Carroll's new Deputy PCC role continues to rumble on, with Liberal Democrat Cllr Simon Parker calling his appointment without a formal selection process “the height of arrogance”.

He said: “Considering that one of the principal tasks of the PCC must surely be to bring greater openness and public accountability to the administration of our police forces, I find it astonishing that Cllr Carroll's appointment was widely accepted as a fait accompli prior to the election.

“There are many other issues which impact directly on the public perception of the democratic process.

“Having been elected by such a tiny percentage of the electorate, it seems to me the height of arrogance to have not even paid lip service to any form of competitive selection when choosing his deputy.”

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