DISTRICT council leader Tom Wells has reflected on his time in charge of the authority.

The long-serving councillor is stepping down after three years as leader.

He said he is stepping down for a variety of reasons, including to look after his own mental health, and so he can devote more time both to his family and to serving the residents of his ward - Powick and the Hanleys.

Looking back over his tenure, Cllr Wells said: “For me, the highlights include creating an ambitious new Council Plan and placing health and wellbeing as one of its fundamental objectives.

“Looking after our public finances has been important too and our Medium Term Financial Plan shows we are on top of the financial challenges facing local government.”

Cllr Wells also carried out his ‘Talk to Tom’ leader’s surgery on the first Monday of each month. “I have met hundreds of local residents to discuss a wide variety of matters important to them,” he said. “I have no magic wand, but have assisted wherever I could. 

“I have endeavoured to run the council in a collaborative way, ensuring all who wished to, would have an opportunity to chair a panel or committee. I have supported councillors’ roles as community leaders by doubling their community ward budget. 

“As a genuinely independent councillor, I am only interested in focusing on our residents and not national party politics.” 

Cllr Wells was first elected as a councillor in 1995 and has been an ever present member of the council for 30 years.

He was born and brought up on a local housing estate and said: “It has been an honour to serve as council leader for the town and district I call home.

“The new leader will need time and space to establish themselves, and I wish them well.”

Cllr Wells, who was elected leader in May 2022, will continue in the role until a successor is appointed at the authority’s next full council meeting on November 26.