Peter Carlill has stepped down as Calverley and Farsley councillor after saying ongoing physical and mental health issues made it difficult for him to carry on. He wrote to the leader and chief executive of the council on Wednesday and said he can no longer do the role at the level he would want to.
He said he had represented Calverley and Farsley as a Labour & Co-operative councillor since 2018. Carlill also said the role was “a fantastic job – one I have often described as the best job I have ever had – allowing me to make a positive difference to people’s lives and the area I love every day.”
Peter Carlill and Calverley and Farsley
Carlill said he had kept his health issues private for some time. In his statement, he said the problems were both physical and mental and that they made it harder for him “to do justice” to the job. That leaves Residents of Calverley and Farsley losing a councillor who had held the ward since his election in 2018.
He said he was proud of work on parks and green spaces, cleaner and safer streets, community groups, local services, road safety, crime reduction, and youth clubs. He also said he would continue to be involved in improving the area as a resident and volunteer rather than as a councillor.
Leeds City Council and Craig Timminsd
Carlill said he was proud of his role within the ruling Labour Group on Leeds City Council. He said he worked alongside James Lewis and Tracy Brabin to improve transport locally and bring buses back into public control, and alongside children’s champions across the city to ensure the voices of children and young people were heard.
He added that he worked as an exec member through complex areas of planning, and said he helped ensure Leeds has one of the most ambitious plans to tackle climate change and delivers on it. Carlill also said Craig would continue the work and had done fantastically since being elected two years ago.
Leeds and the vacancy
Carlill had been appointed executive board member for transport and planning in May. His resignation removes an experienced councillor from Calverley and Farsley and leaves the ward work to continue through Craig Timminsd, while Carlill shifts to the role of resident and volunteer.
Craig Timminsd said he was very sad that Peter had stood down as a councillor. He said Peter was a great colleague and a very good friend, gave his heart and soul to the role, and that the decision was incredibly tough.
