Nottingham City Council’s David Mellen will not seek re-election as leader just months after the local authority declared effective bankruptcy.
Mellen, who was put in charge of Nottingham City Council in 2019, will step down in May.
A Section 114 notice was issued to the local authority in November, with the Government appointing commissioners to help run Nottingham in February.
Mellen conceded he had given the council leadership “everything I can”.
Mellen conceded he had given the council leadership “everything I can”
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Despite quitting as leader, Mellen will continue to serve as the Councillor for the Dales ward.
He was first elected as Councillor for Dales in 2007 and stood in Rushcliffe in general elections held in 2015 and 2017.
Mellen received 26.3 per cent of the vote in 2015 and 38.1 per cent in 2017, with ex-Chancellor Ken Clarke holding the Nottinghamshire seat in both polls.
The former teacher conceded Nottingham City Council was not in a stronger position than when he took over.
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A Section 114 notice was issued to the local authority in November
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He told the BBC: “I'm not going to sit here thinking that I'm talking to you about five years of unrivalled success.
“That hasn't been the case and there are things that have been difficult.
“Some people will say it's my fault - and they do - and others will see a bigger picture of the context in which I've been the political leader of the city council.
“Whether I've got everything right or wrong, others will judge, but I've been committed to the city that I've lived in for 40 years.”
Mellen has also been slammed after council-owned energy-firm Robin Hood Energy collapsed at a cost of an estimated £38million to taxpayers.
David Mellen will remain a Councillor in Nottingham City
He later admitted setting up the energy firm was a mistake, adding the decision predated his membership but he was a member of the executive when it was made.
Mellen said: “Perhaps we didn't look enough at the risk that this was allowing the council to be exposed to and asking enough questions.
“But I think I can hold my hand in my heart that while I was the leader, we took decisions quite quickly and resolutely.”
However, the Dales Councillor was not drawn on who should take over as leader and claimed the “ship has passed” on his attempts to become an MP.
