A CONSERVATIVE member of Pendle Council is to announce his resignation at tonight’s full council meeting.
Coun. George Askew, who represents Boulsworth ward in Colne and is the chairman of the council’s Colne and District Committee, has served on the council since 2010.
In his resignation speech, a copy of which was released before the meeting, Coun. Askew says his resignation will save council tax payers several thousand pounds of unnecessary expense by allowing a by-election to be held on the same day as council elections in May.
Coun. Askew thanks council officers he had worked with and goes on: “I’d like to thank both the Lib Dem and Labour groups for their healthy debate and for not usually giving me an easy ride. It was fun and I learned a lot from it.
“It’s certainly not an easy time in politics and the tough economic climate we find ourselves in will either bring out the best in us, or the worst. This chamber is undoubtedly at its best when we do all work together to find common ground and then reach compromises. It isn’t always easy but every councillor in the room has been elected and we must respect that. I think the ease of which the budget went through last month was a great testament to the borough.”
Coun. Askew also thanks his Conservative colleagues for their support and advice and says it is good to see new younger councillors in the chamber, something he thinks is very positive for Pendle.
Coun. Askew has resigned because he has taken a job in the south of the country and feels he does not have the time to give his role as a borough councillor the full attention it deserves. He will continue to serve as a Lancashire county councillor.