David Hodge, the leader of Surrey County Council, has announced that he is stepping down from the role on 11 December.
Hodge used his resignation speech to the council cabinet to hit out at a lack of government funding having been plagued by financial issues during his tenure. Citing ‘circumstances beyond its control’, Hodge said councils had lost £16 billion in funding since 2009 and Surrey had lost £230 million. Accountants warned in September that Surrey would not have sufficient reserves to meet a funding gap unless it acted.