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29
Jan 2023
Harrogate council leader: 'I will be leaving representative politics'
The Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council has said he will be “leaving representative politics” after turning down honorary alderman status.
Cllr Richard Cooper told a meeting of the council’s general purposes committee that the civic side of the authority has “never been for me”.
Harrogate Borough Council has the power to bestow the title of honorary alderman or honorary alderwomen to past members who have given over 15 years of good service.
Cllr Cooper confirmed in October 2021 he would stand down as a councillor when Harrogate Borough Council is abolished and the new North Yorkshire Council comes into force on April 1.
He told councillors on Thursday he was “leaving representative politics” and would not accept a civic role at the authority.
Cllr Cooper said:
Read more:
- Harrogate council leader confirms he will stand down
- Harrogate councillors block fellow Conservative from civic title as standards row continues
Cllr Cooper was first elected when he took the Liberal Democrat seat of West Central in 1999 and has since held several cabinet positions, as well as being deputy leader and serving on North Yorkshire County Council.
He was elected as leader of Harrogate Borough Council in 2014 and is the longest-serving holder of the position.
Eleven councillors were put forward for honorary alderman status, including four Liberal Democrats, six Conservatives and one Ripon Independent.
However, Cllr Nick Brown, a Conservative, and Liberal Democrat Cllr Pat Marsh were both denied being recommended for the status by fellow councillors.
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