Leeds councillor Peter Gruen to step down after quarter of a century

A long standing senior Labour politician has today announced he will not stand for re-election after a quarter of a century on Leeds City Council.
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Coun Peter Gruen, who has served as councillor for Cross Gates and Whinmoor for the past 24 years has announced he will not stand at this May’s local elections, as he wants to spend more time working with the city’s schools.

Coun Gruen said: “I have had the honour of representing the residents of Cross Gates and Whinmoor for the past 24 years and been given their vote of confidence at eight elections.

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“I have always tried to do my very best for every constituent and for our area as a whole. I think I can point to a lot of examples where we have been able to influence and do things for the better.”

Peter Gruen has served as councillor for Cross Gates and Whinmoor since 1996.Peter Gruen has served as councillor for Cross Gates and Whinmoor since 1996.
Peter Gruen has served as councillor for Cross Gates and Whinmoor since 1996.

Peter was born in Munich in 1950, where is father worked as a doctor, before his family moved to Surrey. He then left to study at the University of Bradford in 1970, before moving to Leeds to work in the Civil Service.

Coun Gruen first became a member of Leeds City Council in 1983, and has held the seat of Crossgates and Whinmoor since 1996.

He was made Executive member for communities, housing and planning in 2010, holding the role until 2015.

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He added: “Here at the Civic, it has been an honour to be elected, first as Chief Whip for eight years and then as deputy leader. My stint on executive board was a very stimulating experience and our battles in the council chamber regarding the planning core strategy and the site allocations plan became legendary.”

He added that he would not stand as a councillor in the forthcoming May elections, as he wanted to spend his time more actively with the several of the city’s schools where he sits as a governor.

He added: “I want to focus on my work with the GORSE Academies Trust, working in schools with staff, parents, governors and pupils to make a transformational difference for the children at school.

“Nothing illustrates this more than the journey we have made at Hillcrest Academy, now an outstanding and world class school, and at Richmond Hill Academy, now being rapidly moved forward from a position of abject failure to once again bringing out the talents and potential of our pupils.”

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“Everyone who knows me, is aware of my passion to work with children with real disadvantages and raising their life time opportunities.

‘I am also very proud of the work of Advonet, which is an incredible third sector organisation and works intensively to provide advocacy services for people with learning difficulties.

“So I hope I will have opportunities beyond the Civic Hall to serve communities.”