Former deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council axed from cabinet
David Taylor has been removed from his role as cabinet member for One Worcestershire amid reports of a rift with leader Jo Monk
A former deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council has been axed from the cabinet.
David Taylor has been removed from his role as cabinet member for One Worcestershire amid reports of a rift with leader Jo Monk.
She said it was time for her to take the lead on plans to replace Worcestershire’s seven councils with one unitary authority.
Cllr Taylor has said he is “increasingly concerned about the direction and leadership of Reform in Worcestershire”.
He told the BBC he’d had “a number of fundamental policy disagreements” with Cllr Monk’s administration.
“These concerns came to a head last week when I was removed from the Appointments panel shortly after advising the leader and deputy leader that I could not support proposals to award additional payments to senior officers who are already earning six-figure salaries,” said Cllr Taylor.
“At a time when Worcestershire County Council’s financial position is so precarious, I believe such decisions must be subject to the highest level of scrutiny and restraint.”
Cllr Taylor said he remains committed to serving the residents of Redditch East and advocating for a “financially responsible approach to the future of local government in Worcestershire”.
Cllr Monk said: “As the council’s proposal for One Worcestershire was submitted to government last month, it is now the right time for me, as leader of the council, to also take the lead on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), in line with other Reform UK councils.
“The remaining elements of the LGR cabinet portfolio, which also covers corporate services, are insufficient to warrant a cabinet role.
“We have therefore made the decision to move these areas alongside the finance cabinet portfolio and remove the role of cabinet member with responsibility for LGR from the structure.
“Cabinet now has nine members with Cllr Rob Wharton being cabinet member with responsibility for finance and corporate services alongside his role as deputy leader.”
Labour councillor Richard Udall said Cllr Taylor has left “without any thanks or appreciation for his work. Clearly all is not well in paradise”.
“This is no way to run a council,” said Cllr Udall. “However, David Taylor may want to reflect on his treatment and consider joining another political party, which may appreciate his talents and hard work.”