Deputy mayor set to quit council
DEPUTY mayor Chris Barton intends to quit as a councillor on Royston Town Council. His resignation, however, is unlikely to be accepted until early next month. Last month Cllr Barton, 60, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates Court where he admitted a charge
DEPUTY mayor Chris Barton intends to quit as a councillor on Royston Town Council.
His resignation, however, is unlikely to be accepted until early next month.
Last month Cllr Barton, 60, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates' Court where he admitted a charge of drink-driving.
He had been arrested driving in Melbourn Street, Royston.
He told The Crow that the town council was aware that he was going to step down.
He said he had already written a "letter of intent" saying he would not be continuing as a councillor.
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Cllr Barton said: "My mind is fully made up. I will be giving up the town council and all the positions I held."
Cllr Barton was re-elected for the Meridian ward in the town council elections last May.
He became chairman of the highways and transport committee and was a member of the planning committee.
He was originally elected as a town councillor in 2002.
He was due to take over as mayor from Cllr Lynn Berry in May.
His intension to quit may lead to a by-election, which would now probably be held at the same time as the North Herts District Council elections on Thursday, May 3.
Cllr Philip Mayne, the leader of the town council, is understood to have accepted the fact that Cllr Barton intends to resign.
He said the town council would be losing a "valued member".
Cllr Mayne said he believed that members would have preferred Cllr Barton to remain a town councillor.
"We would have liked to have persuaded him to remain on the council," said Cllr Mayne.
But he said Cllr Barton could not have remained as chairman of the highways and general purposes committee or become town mayor next year.
"I think his mind was made up, and we have to respect his decision" said Cllr Mayne.
