Everything has its time.

Everything has its time, it cycle, Things begin and they end.

Today sees the beginning of the redevelopment of the Five Acres site , a project that will prove to be a major game changer for the Forest of Dean. Also this month ( or possibly next) will see news emerge of a major new regeneration project in the Forest of Dean, and I mean major.

Indeed when you look back over the last five years there have been huge achievements that will be no doubt listed in a campaign leaflet at some point in the future.

Affordable Housing delivery for the first time ever being ahead of schedule, forming the brilliant Forest Economic Partnership and the council not only bringing businesses back into the Forest but giving those Businesses a platform to succeed here have been real successes of which I am hugely proud, The Forest of Dean is once again a place where business can thrive.

Our investment strategy, maintaining a balanced budget under the most extreme circumstances, innovative support for those in need of help and The Forest Lottery that is helping dozens of local good causes are further evidence of how far the council has come in 4 years. Our wonderful local grant policy is second to none and introducing 3-year funding means organisations can plan effectively. We are currently working on localising and maximising our investments to bring maximum benefit to the Forest of Dean and to end the practice of having to send families in need of emergency housing outside the district. We are looking to maximise the use of the council offices and financially are in a strong a position as we could ever have hoped to be.

Our innovative and committed work on the climate emergency, the carbon reduction toolkit, finding money for actual officers to help us reach our carbon reduction goals and above all bring the district into the discussion

Projects, such as the active transport policy, Foxglove Gardens, the leisure strategy and Lydney Harbour have been progressed and delivered in our administration. The successful bid to The Levelling up fund is testament to how far this council has come. The projects it will fund and those it has placed in our path can offer a future for young people, for communities and for the district. And in simple terms it could not have been delivered 4 years ago. £20 m secured and that can be just the beginning if our template for success is followed in the future. If we are not divisive, if we don’t pitch town against town and if we speak with one voice we have a chance of more success, more growth.

The way the council has led from the front in regards Covid will always remain a matter of pride for me.

We have succeeded in giving the Forest of Dean a voice at the very highest tables. No longer taken for granted, No longer just an aside. A thriving district now, sure of its place and proud of its past while having a future full of opportunity.

These achievements are not down to me, they are down to hard working officers of the Council. They are due to supportive councillors of all parties who have understood what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. These achievements are down to all those councillors past and present who have sat alongside me on cabinet, accepted my early morning nagging emails and phone calls and stood by me shoulder to shoulder when we have been challenged. And we have certainly been challenged. Every time, however, loyal lieutenants there to support me and to get us over the next hump. Some with me from the very start, Chris, and Richard. Latterly Julia and Bernie being there for me and my family. And my dear friends Roger and Paul who simply have had my back, the level of my gratitude to all of you, I cannot express.

And I’ve very much come to rely on these, my friends in cabinet and council.

My attitude has always been that when your voted in by people, you need to serve them properly. When your elected leader of your council and if you love this place, you need to do the role justice. I have thrown all that I have and all that I am into leading the Council to the best of my ability.

It has been a huge privilege to lead the Forest of Dean District Council since 2017. We have never been in a majority group, have always been swimming against the tide, always trying to bring the council with us and above all trying to do things openly, fairly and with the interests of the Forest at heart.

I’ve given the role all I had but have decided that to try to fight an election as leader of the council for the 2023 election is more than I am able to commit to. I deeply believe that local government is no place for party politics, it divides, it damages and prevent councils from growing. Independence is the way forward; it is all that can save local government and give places like ours a voice.

Someone else must shout that message in the lead up to the next election and lead the campaign for The Forest to be placed before a party emblem. We have shown what can be done by working as Team Forest. Imagine a full-on independent council, all determined to work together.

My wife deserves to have her husband back, should she still want him. I owe my employers some dedication and if I can sort my health out, I really want to play cricket with my youngest. Just once will do.

I’m not giving in to the trolls, to the political opponents or to the practised protestors. I’m just realising that it’s not just my fight alone.

I plan to stand in the next election as Berry Hill ward member and hope they may want me to continue to represent them. I’ll make that decision by talking to them and asking them if they still want me.

I can easily see a hung council with no overall control being the outcome of the next elections and if asked to lead then, well of course I'd consider it, I just can’t put another twelve months of my life as that being the goal.

I also am having talks about my next political move and am excited and driven by that opportunity.

And now that I have made this decision, I feel energised to drive ahead for the next 14 months leading the Forest of Dean and the Council towards the very best position, working with colleagues to do that and working with all of our brilliant communities.

I'm aware that unfortunately there are councillors trying their best to undermine my administration. Three or four in particular desperate to have a say in running the council before their electorate remove them of the opportunity due to their lack of work in their own wards and their conflicts of interest. But we will deal with those hopefully in the coming weeks. If we cant then all the other councillors will have a choice of who they wish to lead the council for the next year. They know the dangers those particular councillors bring with them. Those councillors have all requested cabinet roles in the past in exchange for their support and I've refused all of them for various reasons.Despite the problems my stance has brought me now. I'm glad I made those decisions as they were the right decisions for the council.We are not there for us but for the people of the Forest of Dean.

The strains of the last year have started to take their toll, Twice I’ve had to step away from the leadership for a short while as I’ve battled with my mental wellbeing. Not depressed as such more a feeling of being overwhelmed and losing my perspective, worrying about things that I shouldn’t even be thinking about. Continually looking for the next trip wire is simply exhausting, especially when it matters so much.For there to be another trip wire now, when we have achieved so much is simply evidence of what I am talking about.

As a leadership we have done incredible things, to have not only survived so long as a minority administration but to have prospered to such an extent is probably unique.

We can do plenty more in the next 14 months and put the Forest on an even stronger footing.

It’s been a real honour, a position I never ever thought I might hold and one where I was constantly questioning my ability to fill. I really have tried very hard to be worthy of the role.

I'm grateful to everyone for being given the opportunity to lead the Council of this wonderful district.