Deputy council leader quits West Mids police board – and nominates his successor
The deputy leader of Walsall Council has quit the West Midlands Strategic Policing and Crime Board.
Mohammed Nazir emailed his resignation to Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, and took the unusual step of recommending the person he believes should succeed him on the board.
It’s believed Cllr Nazir wants his fellow Walsall cabinet member Cllr Khizer Hussain to be appointed.
The resignation came six months after Cllr Nazir was demoted by Mr Jamieson.
Cllr Nazir, who was mayor of Walsall in 2013, had been one of three assistant police and crime commissioners on a salary of £22,500.
In September last year Mr Jamieson decided to cut the number of assistant PCCs to one – Cllr Judy Foster from Dudley.
Cllr Nazir and Cllr Faye Abbott from Coventry ceased to be assistant PCCs and reverted to plain members of the strategic policing and crime board. They took a pay cut from £22,500 to £7,500.
In a statement commenting on Cllr Nazir’s resignation, Mr Jamieson said: “I would like to thank Cllr Nazir for his tremendous contribution to policing in the West Midlands.
“Balancing different roles can be very difficult and it is therefore understandable that Cllr Nazir has decided to stand down from the strategic policing and crime board to concentrate on his role as deputy leader of Walsall Council. I wish him all the best in the future.”
The decision to appoint three assistant PCCs – all Labour councillors – was controversially taken by Bob Jones, the former West Midlands PCC who died in July 2014.
The three were expected to act as “champions” with responsibility for specific areas including victims, health, technology, equalities, human rights and business, Mr Jones said.
Four non-executive members of the new board were also appointed by Mr Jones.
They are businessman Brendan Connor, former Birmingham Liberal Democrat councillor Ernie Hendricks, Coventry Tory councillor Tim Sawdon and former police commissioner candidate Cath Hannon.
Mr Jamieson has decided to keep the four, but to re-designate them as full board members.
In a notice of decision posted on September 30 last year Mr Jamieson set out the new arrangements:
The Commissioner has agreed with individual Board members the following changes to their contract for services:
- All non-executive board members to become designated as board members
- Councillors Faye Abbott and Mohammad Nazir to no longer be assistant police and crime commissioners but to provide services as board members
- All board members’ contracts to be varied to require 2-4 days per month with payment under the contract for services to remain unchanged
- Councillor Judy Foster to remain as an assistant police and crime commissioner with no changes to her contract for services.
Similar Articles
PM: gave unlawful advice; frustrated Parliament
"Scenes." As young people would say, writes Kevin Johnson. "Unlawful." "Unequivocal." "Historical." These words are not,
WMCA: Nothing to see here…move along
As the Prime Minister prepared to address leaders ‘up North’ gathering for the Convention of
HS2: new driver needed
Is the Oakervee Review "welcome", "frustrating" or the end of the line for HS2, asks
Dawn goes Down Under
It might appear that Birmingham city council changes its chief executives more regularly than its
Hezza: Give Metro Mayors greater powers to deliver housing, skills and jobs
Britain’s metro mayors should be given greater powers over housing, schools and jobs to truly
About Author
