The Labour leader of a south London council has announced he will stand down next month after five years in the post. The resignation comes after months of criticism of his administration following a damning inspection by the housing regulator.
Kieron Williams will remain in his role as leader of Southwark Council until a successor is elected by a meeting of the Council Assembly, expected to take place in July.
Mr Williams, who represents Camberwell Green ward, was first elected to the council in May 2014 and became its leader in September 2020. Before becoming leader, he held a range of cabinet jobs including housing, jobs, skills and innovation.
In a statement published on Monday, Mr Williams said now was the "right moment" to "step back and hand over the reins to a new leader who can bring renewed energy". He said: "It has been an honour to serve this borough that I love so deeply.
"I want to say thank you to everyone I've worked with over the last five years. It has been a huge privilege to meet so many inspiring people who work day in day out to make Southwark the amazing place that it is."
Victor Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, pointed out that the resignation came just a few months after the Regulator of Social Housing's (RSH) damning inspection of the borough's council housing. The RSH gave the council its second-worst rating after highlighting evidence it was failing to meet legal requirements for health and safety in tenants' homes and communal areas.
In April, Mr Williams admitted the council built too many homes too quickly and "should have focussed on quality".
Mr Chamberlain said: "I want to thank Kieron for his public service and his leadership, particularly during the Covid pandemic - a uniquely challenging period for Southwark and our communities. But this resignation speaks volumes. Just months ago, Southwark Liberal Democrats called the first extraordinary council meeting in 18 years to declare no confidence in his leadership following a damning judgement from the Regulator of Social Housing which found 'serious failings' in Southwark Council."
The Lib Dems' no-confidence vote never took place after being quashed during a council meeting and they failed in their attempt to oust Mr Williams.
Mr Chamberlain added: "Under his watch, Labour hiked council tax for the most vulnerable year after year, failed to build homes local people can afford, admitted they won't hit net zero targets, and oversaw rising crime and antisocial behaviour. Let's be honest, Kieron Williams clearly does not feel he can easily or effectively defend Labour's record at next year's local elections - and he's right.
"Particularly when compounded with the Labour Government's cruel welfare cuts and dangerous rhetoric on migration. But no new Labour Leader can rewrite Labour's record either. They have all been part of the decisions and failures that have left residents disillusioned and let down."
However, Mr Williams painted a different picture of his tenure. He said: "In my first months, we rolled out a host of new services: getting tests and vaccinations to our community and vital help to over 73,000 people and 4,000 businesses. It was a huge team effort that showed the incredible strength of our community and just how much we can achieve when we work together."
His statement also touched on the "many other challenges" such as the cost of living crisis and "cuts to our local public services by previous governments". He added: "Since I became leader, we have got cost-of-living help to over 100,000 Southwark local people, put in place the country's most comprehensive free school meals offer, built more new council homes than at any time since the 1970s, with over 3,000 now completed or under construction, created over 3,000 apprenticeships, raised standards in our schools, with over 95 per cent now rated good or outstanding and set new standards for care with our residential care charter and open access children's mental health service. As well as opening new libraries, sports centres, a new nursing home and planting over 20,000 trees."
He said he was "immensely grateful" to everyone he had worked with over the past five years including council staff, cabinet members, councillors, volunteers, community groups, businesses, schools and NHS staff. Mr Williams added: "I know I leave our council in the safe hands of a dedicated and hardworking group of councillors, who will continue to strive for the very best for our community.
"I look forward to seeing the many things that you will achieve together in the years ahead. Our borough and community will always be in my heart."
Southwark Council's chief executive Althea Loderick, said: "I have greatly valued and enjoyed working with Kieron over the past three years, and I am thankful for all of the support that he has given me since I became chief executive.
"His commitment to our amazing borough and its people is clear for everyone to see. Under his leadership we've made a huge impact supporting vulnerable people during Covid, with building new council homes and making sure young people get the support they need to thrive."
