A COUNCIL leader who was arrested and accused of threatening to kill his wife has stepped down.
Owen Taylor, who was the leader of the Labour-run East Renfrewshire Council, wrote to David Dippie, the chief executive, yesterday to tender his resignation.
Mr Taylor, 49, was arrested and charged with beating Marjory, his wife, and punching her on the head at their home in Gateside Road, Barrhead, on September 13. He entered a plea of not guilty when he appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on September 15 and was granted bail. His bail conditions prevented him from approaching his wife.
Mrs Taylor later wrote to a sheriff asking that the bail conditions which prevented Mr Taylor from seeing her be dropped, which they were.
A trial had been set for January 17, but after Mrs Taylor wrote another letter to the procurator-fiscal a decision was taken to desert the case. However, the charge has not been completely dropped and a trial could be initiated at a later date if the Crown elected to do so.
Mr Taylor had been suspended by the Labour party pending the outcome
of the case.
In a letter to Mr Dippie yesterday he wrote: "I believe that it is unfair for the council to be asked to continue its valuable work while my own position remains unclear."
Jim Fletcher, acting leader of the council, said: "Councillor Owen Taylor has done a great deal for East Renfrewshire Council. His considerable political skill, hard work and commitment as leader, right from the start of the council in its shadow year, has been instrumental in establishing East Renfrewshire as one of the most respected councils in Scotland."
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