THE CHAIRMAN of Warwickshire County Council has resigned after being exposed as a “rogue landlord”.
Coun Edward Harris has been found to be illegally running two unsafe rental properties in Tamworth, Staffordshire.
Tamworth Borough Council said it had issued closure notices on the homes after discovering “multiple serious safety failures”, including a lack of central heating and hot water, no working fire alarms, inadequate cooking facilities and unsafe access to outdoor areas.
Coun Harris has resigned from his position as chairman and also said he would resign the Reform whip and sit as an independent councillor while the matter was being looked into.
Tamworth Borough Council said it had issued two emergency prohibition notices after finding tenants living in unsafe conditions.
The six-bedroom detached buildings, which housed multiple tenants, failed to meet even the most basic of living standards and legal requirements, the council added.
In a statement, the authority said Harris had repeatedly failed to take action to address the problems it had found.
Coun Harris said: “It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Warwickshire County Council. A recent news story has been an unfair distraction of the great work of our council and its people.
“While this matter is looked into, I feel it is my noble duty not to allow my chains of office to be put through a process. Therefore with immediate effect I am resigning the office of chairman.
“I would like to thank colleagues across the chamber for their support and for electing me to office. I will continue to serve my residents in Baddesley and Dordon and support the council with all its work to improve the lives of Warwickshire residents.”
Warwickshire’s Labour MPs have written to WCC leader Coun George Finch calling for an urgent investigation.
In a joint letter, Rachel Taylor, John Slinger, and Matt Western demanded to know whether Coun Harris fully declared his rental property interests, as required by the councillor code of conduct, and whether he had received housing benefit payments while renting out unlicensed properties.
The MPs are calling on WCC to commission a full investigation and provide assurances that all councillors who rent properties were compliant with housing and licensing regulations.
Coun Finch added: “I have been informed that Coun Edward Harris has tendered his resignation as chairman of Warwickshire County Council with immediate effect. Coun Harris will no longer sit as a Reform councillor and will be sitting as an Independent member while this matter is investigated. I want to thank Coun Harris for the service given in the chairman’s role. It would be inappropriate to comment on the details while the proper process is ongoing, and I would urge others not to speculate.”
