Leader of Stroud District Council Chas Fellows is to step down

Cllr Fellows, the longest serving leader at SDC spoke exclusively to the Stroud News & Journal about his departure this week.

Although the decision was formalised in a letter to the council last night, Tuesday, Cllr Fellows will continue as leader until the next full meeting of the council on November 12 when a new leader will be elected.

"This is not a decision I have taken lightly. I initially intended to step down in May this year but a number of my colleagues convinced me to stay on to help deliver some efficiency improvements and changes," said Cllr Fellows.

"I also wanted to help ensure that the problems with our housing service were addressed so that it was left on a strong footing before I stepped down."

Cllr Fellows says it is time for a new chapter in his life and he would like to spend more time with his family.

"Basically I want to get my work/balance life right.

"Relinquishing my leader role will allow me to focus more on my Chalford constituents and on my new appointment as chairman of Gloucestershire County Council’s environment scrutiny committee.

"As a county councillor it is sometimes hard to get more involved in issues as there is the potential for a conflict of interest."

The former postman who has also served in the RAF, became a district councillor in 1996.

He became deputy leader in 2002 and took the office of leader in 2004.

"It has been an enjoyable and challenging experience and a privilege to represent the whole district," said Cllr Fellows.

"I can still remember the adrenaline buzz when it was proposed I become leader. It was a great feeling.

"I have spent the past seven and a half years at the cutting edge of politics in Stroud, representing a community which, in my opinion, is one of the finest in the country "While there is never a perfect time to make a decision like this; I am going now knowing I have completed the ideas and initiatives I started here.

"It would have been wrong for me to have left before a line could be drawn under that," he said.

"Most of my working life I have been deskbound, working long hours, with very little time for relaxation," said Cllr Fellows.

"It sounds a little cliché but at the age of 64 I want to spend more quality time with my family and free up time for gardening on my allotment.

"I have only just unearthed my passion for gardening and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

"When I told my wife, Sue that I had signed the letter of my intent to resign she cheered."

Sue was involved in an accident last year which affected her mobility and this has contributed to Chas’s decision to spend more time at home.

"The structured, organised, daily commitment will not be there soon and the ability to be extremely flexible will be very important in my life."

Looking back over his achievements he says he is most proud to have led the Conservative administration into two district council elections where the number of Conservative councillors did not go down.

He is also pleased to have put the environment strategy of SDC on the map nationally and he says he will continue his interest in the canal project which has been close to his heart.

During his time as leader, SDC went through a major restructure.

"That is always a pain in any organisation and there will always be winners and losers but I feel the benefits far outweighed the losses.

"It was a painful process but I took it upon myself to take the brunt of the criticism for it," said Cllr Fellows.

"The council is now a trimmer organisation and it feels right to be able to leave it in good shape."

He also said he was proud of the way in which the council reacted during the floods in the county in 2007.

"I am immensely proud at the way the staff rallied in that crisis and the operation was complemented by other services in the area all working to keep the county safe.

"We have good quality staff here who are motivated and who want to provide a good service for the community," said Cllr Fellows.

When he took over as leader, Cllr Fellows said there was a great deal of tension within the cabinet.

"I made it quite clear I would not tolerate rudeness and I stamped it out and there is now a much improved atmosphere."

"Some of the policies I brought to council have been unanimous and some have been centre left of Conservatism and that hasn’t always gone down well.

"But I have never thought of myself as a run of the mill Tory.

"For me the whole purpose of an organisation like SDC is to provide good quality services for the residents that they would like."

Cllr Fellows launched the Ask the Leader column on the council’s website and he says he hopes his successor might carry that on.

"Few leaders have had the confidence or foresight to do that but I think it is important in this role to be available to the public."

Now as he prepares to spend more time at his 150ft allotment in Chalford, he says inevitably people will draw their own conclusions for his departure.

"Because politics is precisely that there will always be attempts to gain in elections," he said.

"But I know and believe I have acted honourably and whatever links people try to make, I am big enough and ugly enough to take it.

"That’s the name of the game."

Colleagues and friends this week paid tribute to Cllr Fellows and his time as leader of the council.

David Hagg, chief executive of SDC, said: "It must be the week for the breakup of Chas and Dave partnerships.

"I have enjoyed working with Chas. He is a strong leader with political vision and his commitment to public service is unquestionable.

"He can look back on his five years with pride and a real sense of achievement."

Beri Hare, principal of Stroud College, said: "Chas has been a very good supporter of the college in ensuring provision across the Stroud district matches people’s needs.

"We have worked together on improving sustainability in the area and in recognition of the effective work Chas has done he was made a fellow of the college last year, making him only one of three."

Denis Andrewartha, leader of the Liberal Democratic group on SDC, said: "It is a sad day for the district. I am in different political party to him but as far as I am concerned Chas has worked hard for the district. He has generally been a pragmatic leader who has worked well with the opposition parties and I hope his successor will be as successful in being able to be so inclusive."

Chris Steer, headteacher at Thomas Keble School, said: "I have known Chas both as a governor of this school and as a local district and county councillor. He has always been very active in supporting the school and in both capacities we could not have asked for more. We are sad that he is stepping down, it is a great loss for the district."

Terry Morgan, regional secretary of the Federation of Small Businesses for Gloucestershire West of England region said: " Our main contact with Chas has been through Gloucestershire First where he was chairman for two years. He steered it through quite a difficult period and as far as FSB is concerned we had a constructive two years with Gloucestershire First and are very pleased with our relationship while Chas chaired it. We saw some very positive changes"

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