A SENIOR Harlow councillor in charge of the roads across the town has decided to step down.

Councillor Steve LeMay’s official title was portfolio holder for HTS, Properties and Facilities with special responsibility for the roads.

However, it seems that he has decided to call it a day.

After three days of asking the ruling Conservative group for a statement, a brief one was issued late on Monday night.

A spokesperson said: “Cllr LeMay has stepped down from his portfolio. A statement will follow and the leader of the council will answer questions in an interview this week”.

YH understands that he will sit on the back bench as a ward councillor for Great Parndon.

There were great hopes when councillor Le May was elected in May 2021. He came with decades of experience in business as the man behind companies such as Land Sheriffs.

And with his no-nonsense approach, there were great hopes he would help improve Harlow Council.

But YH understands that cllr LeMay became increasingly frustrated dealing with life in the public sector and local government.

But perhaps it was the extra responsibility of taking on the title of “roads tsar” which tipped councillor LeMay over the edge.

Many may conclude that he resigned in the weekend of National Pothole Day as he decided that (and other responsibilities) was, given the present circumstances, virtually an impossible task.

Critics may opine that the Conservative group in Harlow seem to be slowly falling apart.

They took over the council with high hopes in May 2021 and may well point to achievements such as kickstarting the regeneration of the town centre.

However, it just doesn’t look like a happy ship. In September 2021, the leader of Harlow Council, Andrew Johnson stood down (he is still chair of the council). In May 202, the deputy leader Joel Charles was demoted.

In November 2022, the portfolio holder for Housing, Simon Carter was sacked over the handling of the Five Acres housing repairs project and now this.

It was also perhaps significant that at a recent Cabinet meeting just four of the nine portfolio holders attended.

The Tories are expected to retain power at the May local elections. It would need Labour to gain Old Harlow, Church Langley and Great Parndon. However, all 33 councillors are up in May 2024 and many wonder whether they will have the appetite and the candidates to fight next year.