Councillor Colin Hall has stepped down from his post as joint deputy leader in a Sutton Council shake-up.

Member for the environment, Coun Hall had shared the deputy post with Councillor Ruth Dombey, but at this month’s annual general meeting he stood down from the position.

Coun Hall said he made the decision following the separation from his wife, and said he needed to spend more time with his children.

He said: “I spoke to the leader of our party, Sean Brennan and deputy leader Ruth Dombey who said they had no objections provided I kept on with the environment portfolio.

“As deputy leader you oversee some projects in other portfolios and it can take up a lot of time.

“I have spoken to some of the opposition councillors so people understand the reasons behind the move.”

Coun Hall was made joint deputy 18 months ago after the leading Lib Dem party drew a dead heat for the position.

During that time he oversaw the council’s controversial green garden waste scheme, which was dropped late last year after public backlash. He denied this had anything to do with his decision to step down.

He has also won an award for outstanding contribution to local transport in London in the London Transport Awards for his Smarter Travel Sutton project, which aims to increase bus and bike use, while encouraging people out of their cars.

Coun Hall said he would continue tackling his main priorities of waste minimisation and recycling schemes in his role as environment head.

He said: “My main objective is to make sure we have clean and tidy streets and work to reduce clutter and waste.

“My focus will be on the things that matter in the borough.”

• Want to become one of our community correspondents? Log on to our Your Say section, click here to email Diana Jarvis or phone 020 8330 9592.