ONE of the most senior members of the Cabinet of Fenland District Council has stepped down citing personal reasons.

Councillor Kit Owen- 30 years a councillor and five times Mayor of March- tendered his resignation to Council Leader Alan Melton who described his colleague as “a brilliant Cabinet member who will be missed”.

Cllr Melton said: “Kit has been not only a brilliant Cabinet member but also a brilliant supporter of me and a brilliant supporter of the Tory group.

“I am saddened he has decided to resign for personal reasons. He has been a hard working, conscientious member of Cabinet and he will be a great loss.”

Cllr Melton said his colleague had successfully driven through the core strategy and would be remembered for steering through the successful transfer of Fenland’s housing stock to Roddons Housing Association.

“He served under me and also under Geoff Harper in his Cabinet and has done a fantastic job,” said Cllr Melton.

Cllr Melton announced only last week that Cllr Owen would add being portfolio holder for March to his duties: a recent re shuffle had taken away responsibility for transport from his brief.

Cllr Owen would confirm only that he has resigned from Cabinet “for personal reasons.” But he said he would remain as a councillor for the foreseeable future.

During his time in Cabinet he has taken responsibility for housing, planning strategy, roads and transport.

In addition he has had responsibility for Information Technology and housing benefits and has chaired the licensing committee.

Cllr Owen, a widower, was married to Beverly with a daughter Lisa, who died two years ago, and a son Jonathan who lives in Texas.

He was born and brought up in the West Ward of March. He was educated at March Grammar School before working for a local newspaper. He was a statistician in the Royal Air Force both at home and abroad for 12 years.

After pursuing various accounting careers in Spalding and Wisbech, he was then for 23 years employed in local government.