Former Shropshire Council leader steps down after 40 years of service
A former Shropshire Council leader and chairman has announced his retirement from the authority ahead of next month’s local elections.
Malcolm Pate has sat on Albrighton Parish Council for more for than 40 years, and also represented the parish on the old Bridgnorth District Council and Shropshire County Council.
He has held the Albrighton seat on Shropshire Council since it was formed 12 years ago.
A former county council leader, Councillor Pate was chairman of the unitary council in 2015 when he was asked to step up to the top job following Keith Barrow's resignation as leader.
He returned to the back benches after the 2017 local elections, when he handed the reins to Peter Nutting.
Now aged 77, Councillor Pate has decided the time is right for him to depart local politics and has moved to Lancashire to be closer to family.
Recalling what compelled him to stand for election all those years ago, Councillor Pate said: “I just had a feeling that I needed to do something for the community.
“The first thing I did was joined the Scout Supporters Association – my daughter was a young Scout – then the parish council. Two years later I joined the district council.”
Councillor Pate retired from his day job as a company director, aged 55, to focus on his councillor role full-time, and held senior positions at every level of local government over the years.
He was to be the last ever leader of the former county council, overseeing its transition to a unitary body in 2009.
“I was instrumental during my time as leader in taking Shropshire Council to unitary," he said.
“I probably wasn’t the most popular person in Shropshire at that time.”
Councillor Pate has also served a stint as chairman of Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC), and been a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Regional Assembly.
A lot has changed since Councillor Pate was first elected, and he said the new cohort of councillors would be tasked with overseeing another huge transition as the authority plans to vacate its headquarters in 2023 and move to Shrewsbury town centre.
“It is very different now to how it used to be,” said Councillor Pate.
“I have got nostalgic memories of Shirehall. One of the things I did as leader was have solar panels put on the roof.
“It is a bit sad but I can see the necessity of selling Shirehall.
“A lot of lessons have been learned because of Covid, working from home will remain afterwards.”
Councillor Pate said the new administration would have other challenges to contend with, including fighting for more government funding for the county and helping the local economy recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
He said: “Things are going to be difficult. It’s always been a major problem in Shropshire funding elderly care, there is never enough money.
“I have spent most of my political life trying to persuade government to give us more money for elderly care.”
Councillor Pate also paid tribute to the council staff, saying: “All the officers who I have worked with over the years have always been excellent. The people of Shropshire are lucky to have such a team of competent people taking care of things.”
He said it was down to the hard work of officers that the old county council was the “highest performing” in the country at the time he took over around 2003.
Roads and pavements
In Albrighton, Councillor Pate said he had “always tried to look after” the village and its residents.
He said: “I have always tried to make sure anyone who has put in complaints – or complements – are dealt with.
“I have always been concerned about the state of the roads and pavements.
“I have worked with others on the parish council about getting a ramp up to the station.
“I have always fought to protect the green belt around Albrighton and I think we have done that quite successfully.
“I have been proud to serve the people of Albrighton.”
Councillor Pate’s replacement as the unitary councillor for Albrighton has already been confirmed ahead of next month’s local elections, as new Conservative candidate Nigel Lumby is unopposed.
It is the only division in the county not being contested by two or more candidates.
Councillor Pate said: “The new councillor Nigel Lumby is a first-class man. I am sure he will carry on the good work that has been done and will be a good representative.”
