Council leader to step down after five years in role

Well-known council leader Bob Sleigh is leaving his role at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council after five years in the role.

Mr. Sleigh, who is also the deputy mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority and a former businessman, will be stepping down from both roles due to personal reasons.

According to his profile on the Solihull Council website, he also holds positions on the HS2 Delivery board, West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority and Marketing Birmingham.

Sleigh, who is the Conservative councillor for Bickenhill ward, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I just feel it’s the right time for me, it’s a 24/7 role and it’s very time consuming. I feel you can only give this role so much.”

He will stand for re-election to represent Bickenhill ward next month, having begun his career 20 years ago chairing Bickenhill Parish Council.

According to the BBC, opposition councillors have criticised Mr Sleigh’s administration over inequality and environmental issues.

He told the LDRS that he did not have any regrets when it came to policy, but there were still “jobs to be done” in the borough.

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