Burnley Council leader's shock resignation

A planned meeting of the full council will take place on 30th September and it is hoped that a new leader and executive will be appointed at that time.

The council has contingency measures in place in its constitution, whereby the council’s chief executive Mick Cartledge can use his executive urgency powers as necessary to ensure council business can proceed as normal.

Councillor Briggs said: "I'd like to thank all council staff and our partner organisations for their hard work and fantastic support in taking our borough forward and in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic."

In a statement to the Express he said: "We are a party that is based on community and hard work. We went into this coalition with some trepidation, with the intention of doing the best for the town. I accepted the invite to be leader of the council as a neutral chair for a group of councillors from a variety of parties.

"It has become evident in the last few weeks that the Conservatives are crippled by infighting and have even removed their own Executive members. The Liberal Democrats have no intention of working with the current leadership of the Conservatives as they have a history with UKIP. This has made running the council in its present form untenable.

"My position has become less a leader and more a referee having to repeatedly engage in resolving disputes. I have been constantly pressured to do what one group wants, which another group does not. It appears that some of the local councillors are more concerned with their own ambitions and principles than the towns needs at this perilous time.

"We need a stable coalition and I feel that it is impossible to get with the leadership of the Conservative and Lib Dems. We cannot allow the council to be frozen by Parties more concerned with themselves than the residents.

"I, Councillor Charles Briggs have resigned my position as leader of the council and a New leader from the next administration will be appointed. This is needed at a time when important decisions must be made and a strong council is essential.

"I love Burnley and Burnley people and it breaks my heart to have had to make this decision. It has been an honour to serve the communities of the town where I was born and raised. My only regret is that the leaders and members of the other coalition parties, could not rise above the petty ambition, petty one upmanship and petty squabbling that has plagued this administration.

"Mr Cartledge said: "I'd like to thank Councillor Briggs for all his hard work as leader. I can assure residents that council services and business will continue as usual and I will use my executive urgency powers as appropriate until a new leader and executive is appointed."