Dudley Council’s leader is stepping down after six years in the role.

Councillor David Caunt is also quitting as leader of the council’s Conservative group, a position he has held since 1992. The veteran politician made the shock announcement yesterday.

A new leader of the Conservative group and council will be elected at the party’s annual group meeting tomorrow and will be ratified at a full meeting of the council on May 21.

Councillor Caunt will remain on the council as a ward member for Sedgley.

The 68-year-old former Wolverhampton University lecturer today said he felt the time was right for him to stand down.

“People do not realise the hours and pressures being the leader of a council is subjected to. Working days of 14 or 15 hours is not uncommon,” he said. “There also comes a time when you start to think perhaps there are others who can now do the job better than you can.

“Over the next few years the council will have to change dramatically and some hard decisions will have to be made.

“At a time when the senior officer team has been refreshed, I consider it is time for the controlling group to do likewise.

“It has been an honour to lead Dudley Council over these past six years and it was something I wanted to do since first becoming a member of the authority in 1970. I would like to thank colleagues and staff for all their hard work during my tenure.” Councillor Caunt said he retired from work 12 years ago and now wanted more time to spend with his family and on his beloved narrowboat.

“I will still be a member of the council and will continue to work hard to represent the people of Sedgley,” he said.

“Since my wife died two-and-a-half years ago my daughter Tina has looked after me.

“This is time I want to repay and stepping down as both council and Conservative group leader will allow me to do that.”

Councillor Caunt retains the record of being Dudley’s youngest-ever mayor, performing the role in 1983/84 when he was 43.

His announcement comes after the break up of the council’s team of top officers. Chief executive Andrew Sparke, director of finance Mike Williams and director of children’s services John Freeman have all left in recent months.