'Bits of stuff' row leader quits

Councillor Tommy Taylor said he had done nothing wrong

A council leader who refused to apologise after describing three women officers as "nice bits of stuff" has resigned due to "ill health."

Wear Valley Council's Lib Dem leader Tommy Taylor, 67, made the remark at an awards event in March.

Opposition members said the comment was inappropriate, although the women did not make a complaint.

Mr Taylor said he was quitting for health reasons and that he did not regret "complementing" his colleagues.

Labour councillors Neil Stonehouse and Charles Kay submitted a motion calling for Mr Taylor, who has only been in the post for two months, to apologise and stand down.

But after a statement was read out from the officers, Natalie Drew, Catherine Price and Julie Tyrie, saying they had not been offended by the remarks, Mr Taylor did not offer a public apology.

'Standing ovation'

He said: "I'm leaving purely and simply on health grounds.

"I think I've made an impact in the job and my colleagues seem to think so - when I first suggested standing down for health reasons I got a standing ovation."

Mr Taylor made the remark about the women while looking at a photo of them.

He added: "All I was doing was praising members of staff in my own way. The support I've had has been really out of this world.

"I've had hundreds of emails and phone calls."