Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow resigns

Keith Barrow the leader of Shropshire Council has resigned with immediate effect.

Mr Barrow has stepped down as both leader of Shropshire Council and councillor for Oswestry South.

Last month Mr Barrow stepped down as director of ip&e after failing to disclose a conflict of interest. An investigation into an allegation about the conduct of Councillor Keith Barrow concluded that he failed to comply with the Code of Conduct of Shropshire Council by failing to formally disclose a conflict of interest at meetings of the Board of ip&e Ltd.

Keith Barrow became Leader of the newly formed unitary authority of Shropshire Council in 2009. Before this he was portfolio holder for Development at Oswestry Borough Council from 2007 to 2009 and a member of Oswestry Town Council from 2005 to 2009.

Clive Wright, Shropshire Council’s chief executive, said: “These are unprecedented times of change and budget cuts for local government, and the enormous pressure upon councillors, particularly the Leader and Cabinet, should not be underestimated.

“Councillor Barrow has contributed an enormous amount of his personal time and a combination of skills and attributes which have shaped the strategy and direction of Shropshire as a whole. In my view the greatest legacy of his strong leadership is University Centre Shrewsbury, which could not have happened without his bold decision-making.

“He has several grandchildren who he dearly loves, and I sincerely hope that by stepping down from the council he will now have the time to enjoy them as fully as I know he would wish.

“This is a good time for change, and it feels like a new era as we shape our strategy for the next five years. There are new opportunities as well as challenges, as the purpose of local authorities will change completely. It will be tough at times, but with a new Leader to be elected at our next meeting of full Council on Thursday 17 December, and the continued enthusiasm of our committed staff working closely with elected councillors, communities and our partners, we will ensure that Shropshire continues to succeed.”