Cllr Tony Davey has stepped down as Mayor of Stroud after describing his time in the role as “both impactful and rewarding”. He said he chose to serve an additional term to help Stroud District Council through a period of major organisational change.
His decision comes as the council’s new offices are brought into use, a new chief executive becomes established and preparations continue for a possible transition to a new unitary authority. Local government reorganisation has been temporarily suspended, but Cllr Davey said work at the council is continuing.
Why Tony Davey remained in office
Cllr Davey said he had considered not serving another term, but decided to remain so he could support the council during the final transition to its new offices, help the new chief executive become embedded and assist with the early stages of a new unitary authority model.
He said the council had now relocated to its new offices and was making them its own. He also praised the new chief executive, saying the officer had settled into the role “brilliantly”.
The former mayor said the timing of his departure was linked to the council’s budget timetable and the annual election of a new mayor. Budget-setting for the next civic year begins before budgets are finalised around February or March and implemented from April, while annual mayoral elections take place in May.
Because a newly elected mayor would normally take on a budget set before their appointment, Cllr Davey said electing a new mayor earlier could increase the chance of that person leading work on a fair and effective budget for the civic year ahead.
Focus on communication with residents
One of Cllr Davey’s aims during his time as mayor was to make the work of local government easier for residents to understand. He said his weekly blogs had helped explain the council’s work, decisions and the steps taken to reach them.
“Whilst rarely without its challenges, I have found my role as Mayor of Stroud to be both impactful and rewarding. It has given me the opportunity to meet so many more members of our community, better understand the way our community works and supports each other, and support our brilliant Officer team to deliver impactful outcomes for our communities. I have met so many people through civic engagements that I would not otherwise have met, and my understanding and appreciation has been enriched through each interaction.”
He said his goal of “de-mystify[ing] the workings of local government” through clearer communications would never be completely finished, but believed the weekly blogs had made progress, with public engagement reflecting that improvement.
Cllr Davey also credited the council’s communications team, saying it achieved far more than he had personally and that its work would continue after his departure.
Thanks to councillors and council staff
Reflecting on his term, Cllr Davey said the mayoralty had allowed him to meet more people across Stroud and gain a greater understanding of how local organisations and residents support one another.
He thanked fellow councillors, deputy mayors Cllrs Fenton and Stinton, and council officers for their support. He praised staff for embracing the office move and restructuring carried out during the term, adding that many of their contributions were not necessarily visible to the public.
“I thank everyone involved for giving me the opportunity to represent the people of Stroud as Mayor, and I look forward to seeing our communities continue to thrive, supported by our local representatives and the teams behind them.”
