Pembrokeshire County Council’s leader has called time on his tenure, but is his exit down to a ’toxic atmosphere’ at County Hall?
The Local Authority’s leader Cllr David Simpson who has held the position since 2017, and notably survived a Notice of Motion of no confidence a year ago called in by the Independent Group, told the Observer that it was “time to stand aside and let someone else do the job” - in declaring his intentions to step down down next month.
Cllr Simpson who has been the county councillor for Lampeter Velfrey since 2004, became leader of the Local Authority when the ruling Independent Political Group lost control of the Council.
In stating that he will not be standing as leader at the authority’s AGM in May, he said: “It is a very demanding position, one that I have enjoyed, but it does not give me any time for my wife, children and the grandchildren.
“I have had the privilege of working with some outstanding cabinet members, officers and colleagues in the chamber.”
However, Tenby’s county councillor for the North ward Cllr Michael Williams believes that a ‘toxic atmosphere’ at County Hall - driven by the ‘so called Independent group’ has played a big factor in Cllr Simpson’s decision.
“David Simpson is a huge loss to local Government,” remarked Cllr Williams.
“He is a man of principle and great dignity who brought his business experience to the benefit of local government.
“He has provided outstanding leadership in an extremely challenging time. It’s so sad to lose an individual such as David, but who can blame anyone from exiting what has become such a toxic environment as that which exists in PCC,” added Cllr Williams.
Cllr Simpson noted highlights of his tenure as having an ‘open and transparent policy’; choosing a cabinet with ambition on their ability and not their political group.
He also said that making a confidential report public in 2017 on former Pembrokeshire youth worker Michael ‘Mik’ Smith who was jailed for child sex offences, was also an important decision during his time as PCC leader.
He listed other achievements as - attracting over £60m in grants for Town Centre regeneration; working with partners and enabling the Freeport bid to go forth and be accepted by the Government; grants to purchase homes for residents; bringing some home care packages back in house; starting to build homes.