Cllr Paul Watkins is to retire as Leader of Dover District Council and step down as a ward councillor on 30 September 2017. Cllr Watkins has been Leader since 2003 and is one of the longest serving Council Leaders in Kent. He first joined the authority as a ward councillor for Lower Walmer in 1983 and since 1999 has represented St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe. Cllr Watkins also served as Chairman of the Council from 1989 to 1992.
Cllr Watkins said: "It has been an honour to serve as a district councillor for the last 30 years and as Leader of the Council for the past 14 years. Now is the right time to pass the baton on to someone new to lead the Council into its next phase, including an Electoral Commission review of the number of elected members, and the local elections in 2019.
"I leave the district in a strong position with major regeneration projects underway bringing new investment and jobs, and with renewed confidence in the future."
