The deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council has resigned, three months into the role.
David Taylor, from the county’s ruling Reform UK party, will remain a member of the cabinet, with Rob Wharton filling in as deputy leader while the group decides on a permanent replacement.
Taylor was elected as a county councillor in Redditch East for the first time in May.
The local Reform group and Taylor are yet to comment on the reasons for the decision, with the former only confirming the change, but Conservative group leader Adam Kent said: “What we are witnessing is nothing short of chaos at the top of Worcestershire County Council.”
Council leader Joanne Monk said a meeting would be held to elect a new deputy and in the interim, Wharton would be fulfilling the role alongside his own cabinet position – member with responsibility for finance and efficiency.
She said she could confirm Taylor had “made the decision to step down as deputy leader”.
She added: “David will continue to be a part of the leadership team in his role as cabinet member for One Worcestershire which covers local government reorganisation.”
Conservative leader Kent said: “Reform promised strong leadership – instead, residents are being subjected to civil war in their ranks, resignations, and bitter infighting.
“At a time when Worcestershire faces the biggest decisions in a generation with local government reorganisation, the county is being run by a group who are more interested in fighting among themselves than delivering for local people.”
Taylor was officially elected as deputy leader of the council at a meeting on 22 May.
After that meeting he said he was “very proud” and vowed to tackle the county’s finances.
Taylor stated at the time “we’re going” to “start afresh – we’ve got a phenomenal cabinet set-up”.
