But he still keeps a cabinet post if hes in poor health Bill Brooks at NCC

Brooks quits as leader of council
Apr 26 2007
By The Journal

The leader of Northumberland County Council has stepped down, it was revealed last night.
Bill Brooks has been the leader of the county council for two years, but has chosen to leave the post for health reasons.
Senior political figures have known about the Labour councillor's decision for several days, but it also emerged at a party AGM meeting in Northumberland last night.
Last night Coun Brooks said he had enjoyed his time as leader and had wanted to carry on, but that it had been a "political decision".
He added: "I would like to have carried on, but, unfortunately, there are reasons which are personal which make that highly unlikely.

"The people who ought to have known about it, have known about it for some time."
Coun Brooks, who is also a board member at Newcastle International Airport and an executive member of the Association of North-East Councils, joined the council in 1992.
He represented Plessey Ward as a county councillor for two terms before taking over from Gilbert Barker as councillor for Newsham, where he had lived for more than 30 years. Prior to joining the council Coun Brooks, who has a daughter called Joanne, had been a television service technician for nearly 30 years, joining the profession when he left school.
In 1985 he became self-employed and later worked as a taxi driver in the Blyth and Cramlington areas for more than a decade, as well as working installing and repairing security alarms.
On his website Coun Brooks writes: "I have always been interested in politics, more so through an active role in the Trades Union movement, then even more so when, like many others in the late 80s/early 90s, I was forced into the low paid, long hours economy of taxi driving.
"At every opportunity I would write to the media on this and other local issues with some degree of success. This was recognised by members of my local party, who urged me to stand in a by-election, which I did, and won."
Coun Brooks will be replaced by deputy council leader Peter Hillman who was born in Blackpool, but who has lived in his ward since 1973 after leaving the Royal Navy following eight years of service. He joined the Labour Party in 1975, with a "determination to remove the Tory Government".
Coun Hillman, who has two children and three grandchildren, is also a member of ANEC and the International Airport Local Authority Holiday.
He is also chairman of the Seaton Delaval and Holywell Labour Party and chair of Governors at Astley Community High School and a governor at Seaton Delaval First School.

News Post Leader, letters page this could be the next leader of Northumberland County Council ?

Disgusted by action to evict panto society
I WAS amazed to read recently that Seaton Delaval Pantomime Society, which has provided hours of festive fun for residents, are to be booted out of the local community centre.
It is noted that the well known Peter Hillman, Labour councillor and deputy leader of the county council was one of the votes that created this situation.Is this what we elect councillors for – to put a stop to a pantomime which old and young enjoy?Come off it Mr Hillman, you should be disgusted with your action – we are the voters of Seaton Delaval.Perhaps when the next elections come around we will remember the action you have taken and vote you off the council.Come along residents of Seaton Delaval and Holywell – let us give the high-handed a dose of their own medicine and see how they like it.Once the money and publicity have gone, they might realise that to tamper with peoples' enjoyment could well backfire, just as their government masters will find out in a general election.

We don't need people like this in office.

Disgusted of Seaton Delaval.

MR HARRIS

Ashkirk Way

Seaton Delaval
19 April 2007

Stop The Press !

Sometimes even the 'Follys' doesn't get the full picture.

We hadn't a clue how devious messrs Brooks and Hillman could be in trying to hold onto the reigns of power, its a bit like a drug isn't it Billy?

Now we find, having had it corroborated by our friends in Wansbeck, that Billy has waited until all the self nomination forms are in before announcing in a letter he was standing down from the leadership because of the lack of confidence in the leadership.

Why wait? because Peter has put in for leader leaving all the good party members unable to bring someone else forward.
I'm sorry Peter but you are part of the problem not the answer - nobody trusts you, particularly after this show of treachery. We understand that Wansbeck members, finding themselves sidelined are 'incandescent' with rage.

Well, we would say to some, a few, this is what we have been telling you all along. Peter and billy cannot be trusted.
Peter has a dream of ruling all of Northumberland.

Just to rub salt into the wound we belive sweetners have been offered to the Tynedale mob to support Peter, we have the e-mail from Billy, and a copy of the letter sent out last week.
Mr Simpson to get an assistant portfolio role, and Mr Reid (remember the latest 'no stars' fiasco with his portfolio, remember that the pension fund he looks after has the second biggest holdings in arms trade companies) he will get Deputy Leader.

We still don't know who will be shifted to let Billy keep his allowances on the Executive - looks more than ever like poor Dorothy has had her moment of greatness snatched from under her.........as it were.

Let us pray for forgiveness we are in for a rough ride in northumberland.

Wansbeck lads and Blyth valley lads and lasses have been well and truly kippered, I was going to say shafted but this is a family blog!