Council leader to step down after 14 years

Bob Cook said the time had come to "slow down"

A council leader has announced he will stand down after 14 years in the role, citing health reasons, including a "light stroke".

Stockton Borough Council's Bob Cook will also stand down as head of the town's Labour group and party members have elected Norton Central councillor Lisa Evans as their new leader.

Cook will continue in his council leadership role until the authority's annual general meeting (AGM) on 2 April when a proposal to appoint Evans as its new head will be voted on.

He will continue to serve as a Norton South ward councillor on the Labour-led authority.

Cook told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had experienced "a few health problems recently" and so had "decided to have a bit of a rest for the next couple of years until the election".

He explained: "I thought I'd done it enough and decided maybe I should slow down a little bit because of a few small health problems."

Tests on his peripheral vision were followed by a brain scan, he said.

"I found I had one of those TIAs (transient ischaemic attacks), a light stroke. It affected my peripheral vision on the right-hand side.

"They stopped me driving, which is a bit of a nuisance. It's no secret, I've been telling people what's happened."

Work is under way to build the Stockton Waterfront urban park

The 73-year-old said he had put his name forward for the role of deputy civic mayor for the council.

He worked in the chemical industry for 30 years as a mechanical fitter and maintenance planner then became former Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham's office manager for nine years.

He said he was proud of what he would leave behind including "High Streets fit for the 21st Century".

Much of Stockton's town centre is being replaced with a £37m riverside park, while Norton High Street is another area to have been revamped.

Earlier this month, £20m plans for Billingham town centre moved forward.