Newcastle’s Liberal Democrat leader has announced that he is stepping down for health reasons.
Nick Cott, who has led the city council’s opposition group since 2020, is resigning his post in order to cut down on stress and reduce his workload during a period of ill health. The Fawdon and West Gosforth councillor said the decision was “the best thing for myself, best for the group, and best for the city”.
While he is quitting as opposition leader, he will stay on as a ward councillor and also plans to continue as chair of the local authority’s overview and scrutiny committee. Liberal Democrat councillors are now set to meet next Monday night to select a new leader.
Coun Cott took over the role in summer 2020, succeeding the late Anita Lower. He has served on the council since 2000 and is a lecturer in history for the Open University.
Coun Cott told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am taking a look at what I am doing and making some changes. This is the best thing for myself, best for the group, and best for the city as well. I will still be carrying on in my role as a councillor and as chair of scrutiny and I look forward to carrying on in those roles and making the best of them.”
The former Parliamentary candidate, who has stood in the last three general elections, added: “There are always difficulties in reconciling all the responsibilities of an elected member with all of the other things that go on in life. Councillors work very hard and the public don’t always see that.
“Sometimes health issues come along and in my case it is better to step back and look after my health and make sure I have a workload that is manageable for me. I am not superhuman, I can’t do everything. This is the best way and it means the group can have a leader who is able to fulfil those responsibilities and set a direction for the opposition moving forward. Whoever that person is, I will offer them my full support.”
The Lib Dems, who ran Newcastle City Council from 2004 to 2011, now hold 21 of the 78 seats on the Labour-dominated local authority.
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