THE leader of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council has stepped down from his role amid concerns over local government reorgnisation.

Hedley McCarthy said it had been the "most difficult and challenging time in the history of Local Government, worse than the Thatcher years" but said he was proud of his council's achievements.

In a statement, he said: "It was always my intention to stand down as leader of the council once this Autumn's Estyn Monitoring Visit was completed. Having now made such significant improvement I am extremely confident of our imminent removal from Special Measures which were imposed during the Independent Administration in 2011.

"It is right to give the new leader time to establish himself with the public before the next Local Government elections.

"I will, of course, support the new Leader and be prepared to serve in any capacity if so required.

"Furthermore, I do not believe I am necessarily the right person to lead Blaenau Gwent into the Welsh Assembly election next May, given that I have serious concerns about the way the so-called local government reorganisation has been handled or for that matter even share the definition of the word local.

"I have been leader of the Labour group for just over eight years including four years as leader of the council.

"In fact I am the only person to have been leader on two separate occasions. During which time there has been four leaders of the opposition.

"This has been the most difficult and challenging time in the history of local government, worse than the Thatcher years, and I am weary of the cuts imposed by the Conservative government.

"Becoming leader of the council, whilst a huge honour can be a case of being careful what you wish for.

"On the positive side I am proud of many of the council's achievements during this period.

"In 2012 Labour in winning a landslide victory inherited a council, not only with its Education Service in Special Measures, but failing in governance and was financially unsustainable. I am pleased to say these matters have been addressed and the council is now on a firm footing, but it cannot be complacent going forward.

"The redevelopment of the Works Site, the re opening and ongoing development of the Ebbw Valley Railway, 3-16,Education, Flying Start, Regeneration of our town centres and optimistic news about the Circuit of Wales.

"Politically it has been critical to realign to our traditional position underpinned by a philosophy which had been missing for several years. To this end I staged the Michael Foot Centenary Lecture, Holocaust Memorial, I set up the Greater Gwent Anti-poverty group, led a protest to Westminster on Budget Day. Established a Refugee Action Group and opposed the Trade Union Bill. Personally it was a honour for me to introduce Jeremy Corbyn when he spoke at Tredegar in August.

"I sincerely thank all members of the council for giving me this opportunity which has been a tremendous privelege. I would also thank our staff and officers. Of course I thank the Labour Group, particularly those who have given me such loyal support."