THE LEADER of Rugby Borough Council is to step down from the role.
Coun Michael Moran has decided not to stand in next month’s local elections.
The Labour councillor was first elected to represent the Admirals and Cawston ward in 2022.
He became leader of the council in 2024 when Labour and the Liberal Democrats struck a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement to allow Labour to take leadership – ousting the Conservatives, who had either led or controlled the council for the past 20 years.
Coun Moran said it had been a ‘privilege’ to serve his ward.
He said: “Leading the council through a cross-party agreement with the Liberal Democrats, after decades of single-party control in Rugby, has been an honour.
“We have created a stable and effective council, which is now fit for purpose with policies and structures in place that have been sorely missing in years gone by.
“Financially, we have managed a very steady ship and are able now, in this year’s budget, to continue to invest in both town centre plans and community projects across the borough that will become evident this coming year.”
He said cross-party work had resulted in a corporate strategy to meet Labour’s goal of a ‘better, fairer and greener Rugby’.
He added: “Part of that is a new Local Plan going through its final stages, that will promote brownfield sites in the town while protecting swathes of the Rainsbrook Valley and the countryside around the South and West of the town, previously vulnerable to Reform and the Conservatives’ promotion of the Lodge Farm development and other illiterate planning policies.
“We have also sought to protect and promote sports facilities across the borough for our future generations, and that is something I am incredibly proud of.”
He thanked the council’s senior officers, his deputy Coun Ish Mistry, his Cabinet, and Coun Jerry Roodhouse and his Liberal Democrat colleagues, who he described as “fair and challenging – always striving to get the best deal for our borough”.
He also wished good luck to Labour candidate Chris Lee, who is standing for Coun Moran’s former seat in the elections on May 7.
