12.11.18
Long-time Surrey County Council leader David Hodge to stand down
The leader of Surrey County Council David Hodge is to step down from the top job.
In a statement released today, Cllr Hodge said it has been “an honour and a privilege” to lead the council since 2011, during a time that saw the local authority make £540m in savings.
“I am proud of what we have achieved during my leadership and my time as deputy leader – in particular the £540m of savings and efficiencies we have found since 2010, the building of tens of thousands of extra school places and the fantastic improvements to our roads through Operation Horizon,” he explained.
“I would like to thank members, officers and everyone else who has helped with these achievements.”
The leader, who has served the county for the best part of a decade, told members of the Conservative group of Surrey last week of his intentions to resign at the end of the year, and he is expected to make a formal announcement at the Full Council meeting on 13 November.
Cllr Hodge has previously told Surrey Live that he will most likely not stand for re-election as councillor for the ward of Warlingham in three years’ time.
The Surrey CC leader became embroiled in controversy last year when a proposed 15% council tax rise was unanimously backed by the local authority’s cabinet and due to be taken to a local referendum. However, Cllr Hodge backtracked on the arrangement shortly after amid allegations of collusion between Surrey CC and the government led to an alleged “sweetheart deal” of additional funding in return for dropping the referendum.
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