Former council leader launches broadside as he quits politics

Coun Keith Knaggs and his wife and fellow member, Vivienne, both issued stinging attacks on the state of the Conservative-run Ryedale District Council as they confirmed they are officially stepping down from their roles at the authority tomorrow.

Coun Knaggs had announced his resignation in December from the top political job at the council, but he has now decided to leave the authority altogether after maintaining his own party had “deliberately destabilised” his position as a backbencher.

He said: “Since standing down as leader of the council it has become clear that the Conservative group has not found any particular role for me, and that I’m not one of nature’s backbenchers. It was disconcerting to be told that the constituency office was saying, without checking with me, that I was going to resign at last week’s council meeting. This deliberate destabilisation is a factor. There is a tradition of Conservative ex-leaders behaving badly – glowering at the back like Ted Heath or storming off to sit under another label. These options do not appeal.”

The unexpected announcement is a bitter parting shot from Coun Knaggs, who admitted his initial decision to resign as council leader had been prompted as a result of “clashes of personality rather than major policy differences”.

At the time, Coun Knaggs, who is profoundly deaf, accused political rivals of taking advantage of his disability after announcing he was stepping down following six years at the authority’s helm. He joined the council in 1991, and was appointed as the Tory group’s leader four years later before taking on the leadership of the council in May 2007.

Coun Knaggs, who conceded he made “avoidable personnel management mistakes” during his tenure as the council’s leader, acknowledged there had not been any formal discussions about what role he would undertake after stepping down from the helm. He also admitted yesterday that it was “now time for everyone to move on”.

His wife, who has been a member of the council for the last two years, called into question the long-term viability of small district authorities, claiming more needs to be done to transform working arrangements by sharing services with other public bodies.

She added: “In times of severe financial constraints and increasing government cutbacks, small district councils like Ryedale can, in my view, no longer continue to act in a traditional manner if they are to preserve essential services.

“Genuine partnership working between, county, district, town and parish councils will be vital to ensure that services like social care, housing, highways and waste management and all those things that matter most to people are maintained.”

Despite the attack on the council, the authority’s new leader, Coun Linda Cowling, has not entered into a political slanging match with her predecessor. Coun Cowling, herself a veteran councillor of 22 years who was installed as Ryedale’s leader in January, paid tribute to Coun Knaggs.

In a prepared statement, Coun Cowling said: “It is has been a pleasure working with Keith over the years. His knowledge, foresight and experience has been a real asset to the authority. I wish him and Vivienne all the best for the future.”

The council’s chief executive, Coun Janet Waggott, added Coun Knaggs had been an “integral part” of the authority for 22 years and will be “greatly missed”.

Coun Knaggs told the Yorkshire Post he had no plans to remain in the political arena, and is considering embarking on a journalism career. His wife is set to her continue helping older people through the voluntary sector. The couple both thanked their political allies, supporters and the council’s officers for their help.

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