THE long-standing leader of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is to step down.
Councillor Joan Spiers, who has led the council for 11 years - from 2001 to 2007 and again since 2008 - will step down after the council elections on May 22.
Cllr Spiers, the member for Kingswood and Burgh Heath, made the announcement a meeting of the council on Thursday.
Councillor Graeme Crome posted on Twitter: "Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Cllr Joan Spiers to step down as Leader after May 22 elections."
Prospective future leaders are expected to announce their candidacy in the coming weeks and a new leader will be elected at the Conservative Group AGM following the election.
In December, the Mirror reported how Cllr Spier was expected to step down following the elections.
The news came not long after MP Crispin Blunt said he would find it "impossible" to work with people who did not support him in his battle for reselection to stand as Reigate's Conservative candidate in the 2015 general election.
Since she first took over the leadership in 2001, Cllr Spiers has only been not of the top chair for one year, in 2007-2008, when Councillor Lynne Hack led the council.
