The deputy leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council has stood down from his role after being charged for drink-driving on Wednesday last week.
Nathan Hartley, who has also stood down from being the Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth Services, resigned from his posts over the weekend.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Leader of Council, said, “I have accepted Nathan’s resignation. He made an error of judgement and decided that his Cabinet position was unsustainable because of his conviction.
“I would like to thank Nathan for his dedication and hard work over the past fifteen months where he has overseen the continued improvement of our Children’s Services and implemented key Cabinet policies, such as retaining Culverhay School.”
The Leader of the Council will assume Councillor Hartley’s previous responsibilities until a successor is appointed by Councillor Crossley.
It was in the early hours of 16th June when Councillor Hartley was pulled over by police after they became concerned over his dangerous driving behaviour.
Police spotted Hartley as he was heading home at 1.16am when his Ford Puma vehicle crossed the central white lines a number of times.
After being pulled over, the officers smelt alcohol on the deputy leader’s breath and he was taken to Bath police station.
Opting to provide a specimen of blood for analysis rather than use the breath-testing equipment, the blood sample taken by a police doctor revealed 84mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg/100ml.
In court, Hartley accepted that he was over the limit, but said he’d only had two pints of lager due to knowing he had to get up early the next day for the Peasedown Primary summer fete.
He has been banned from driving for one year, though this can be reduced to nine months if Hartley completes a driver awareness course. He was also made to pay a £350 fine.
