THE leader of Darlington Borough Council is expected to announce her intention to resign from her role on Thursday after three years leading the authority.

Cllr Heather Scott became council leader in 2019 after her Conservative group became the largest party in that summer's elections, bringing to an end 40 years of Labour council control.

Read more: Darlington's first female council leader Heather Scott tells the Echo about her past and her hopes for the future

The resignation of the leader of the council is listed as an item on the agenda for next Thursday's Darlington Borough Council annual meeting, followed by the election of a new leader.

The Northern Echo understands Cllr Scott, who became the first female leader of Darlington Council in its 152 year history, is expected to outline her intention to step down at a full meeting of the local authority on Thursday evening.

She will be making a statement during the meeting. The Echo understands, although she is expected to stand down as leader, she will continue to serve as a councillor.

Cllr Scott, who was elected as a councillor in 1976 and has been the Tory group leader for almost 15 years, faced a brief leadership challenge last year when Conservative councillors agreed Cllr Rachel Mills should take over as group leader.

 

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