Warwickshire County Council chairman quits over rental property storm - a day after vowing to stay on

Councillor Ed Harris (Reform UK, Baddesley & Dordon) had two six-bed houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) closed by Tamworth Borough Council amid “serious safety failures” related to central heating and hot water, fire and smoke detection, cooking and access provision.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Wednesday (January 28) that he was “contrite” but disputed elements of claims that required “much more context”, insisting when asked that “I don’t think there is any need to” resign from the county council or his role as chair.

“My personal life is completely separate from my work life,” he said.

However, pressure ramped up on Thursday with four Warwickshire MPs signing a letter to county council leader Councillor George Finch (Reform UK, Bedworth Central) urging him to investigate and calling for Cllr Harris to give up the chair during that process.

They got their wish that same evening with a statement on behalf of Warwickshire County Council’s Reform UK group confirming Cllr Harris had stepped down from the chair as well as relinquishing the right to represent his party “whilst the matter is investigated”. He continues to serve as an independent councillor.

Cllr Harris’s statement read: “It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Warwickshire County Council.

“A recent news story has been an unfair distraction of the great work of our council and its people. Whilst this matter is looked into, I feel it is my noble duty not to allow my chains of office to be put through a process.

“Therefore, with immediate effect, I am resigning the office of chairman. I have also written to the leader of Warwickshire County Council to advise him that whilst the matter is investigated I will be resigning the whip and will sit as an independent.

“I would like to thank colleagues across the chamber for their support and for electing me to office. I will continue to serve my residents in Baddesley & Dordon and support the council with all its work to improve the lives of Warwickshire residents.”

The chair acts as the civic and ceremonial head of Warwickshire County Council and “upholds and promotes the purposes of its constitution”.

As well as representing the council at civic functions they also chair meetings of full council, a particularly relevant point with the county’s annual budget-setting meeting coming up on Thursday, February 5.

Warwickshire County Council’s constitution – essentially its rulebook – states that “the council must elect a chair and appoint a vice-chair at each annual meeting and when there is any vacancy”, indicating that someone will have to be appointed at the start of that big budget showdown.

The current vice-chair is Councillor Dale Keeling (Con, Dunsmore & Leam Valley) but it appears he will not automatically step into the breach in the same way he would have if Cllr Harris was absent – the resignation means the position is vacant.

The relevance to the budget meeting is that there remains a tight political balance at Shire Hall with no single party enjoying an outright majority.

In July, Cllr Harris had the casting vote after a 23-23 draw to elect a new leader, giving the nod to Cllr Finch. If a budget bunfight becomes that close, whoever is wearing the ceremonial chains could end up with the final say on a huge political decision.

A statement from Cllr Finch thanked Cllr Harris for his service as chair, adding: “It would be inappropriate to comment on the details while the proper process is ongoing and I would urge others not to speculate.”