FOR many reasons, Mark Cory’s time as leader of Colchester Council was groundbreaking.

When he took over in 2018 he was 31, making him the youngest leader in the authority’s history and briefly the youngest council leader in the UK.

It is an accolade he is likely to hang on to for some time.

Mr Cory was also the first openly gay leader of the council.

But last month’s elections brought an end to his three years in charge.

Although he gained a seat on Essex County Council for the Lib Dems, his position as leader was lost as the Conservatives struck a deal with the Highwoods Independents.

Now it is over, he remains proud of his time in charge of the authority, leading the council through one of the most turbulent periods in its history during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Cory, 34, said: “I didn’t see many people say I was too young. Some of the existing politicians may have tried to talk down to me, but, because I had been in the cabinet for three years, I had confidence in my ability.

“People in the town would have seen me as a fresh face, but actually councillors already respected me for the work I had done running the borough’s finances.

“When we first raised the Pride Flag at the town hall, there were some homophobic comments, but I do not believe I have had anything targeted directly at me because of sexual orientation.

“I was proactive and came out and said I was part of the LGBTQ+ community and I have promoted that community since.

“I have spoken at Colchester Pride events as a representative of the council.

“I have had more abuse due to my anti-Brexit stance than anything to do with my sexuality.”

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This abuse is, he says, one of the darker sides of local politics and puts good people off getting involved.

He said: “Social media has continued to get worse over the years. Before the Brexit referendum, it was not as toxic as it is now. It enabled people to spread nastiness and negativity. It stops good people coming to the front because it is so adversarial.

“It puts women off getting into politics and, in my opinion, we need more women as they are more rational, less ego driven and perhaps better suited to be politicians.

“You do end up with people with egos getting involved. I have a bit of an ego, but I like to think not too big.”

Despite his age, Mr Cory is one of the most experienced councillors on the authority, representing Wivenhoe on the council since 2007.

Becoming leader was a step up, but he says there are many achievements he is proud of during his tenure.

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Not least the “green step change” at the council which saw the authority become among the first in the country to declare a Climate Emergency - shortly after the town elected its first Green Party councillor.

He also says he is proud of “accepting good ideas, no matter where from” as well as the increase in partnership working during his time in position.

Mr Cory said: “I got the streets cleaned when I first became leader and Northern Gateway is finally finished. We secured money through the Town Deal and the public realm changes in the town centre will really make a difference.

“I am really proud of our police funding which had an impact and we saw increased presence in the town. There are many projects people won’t remember I was part of, but I will look back on with pride.”

But not everything has gone quite so smoothly.

He wishes the Alumno student flats scheme had been “handled differently” as well as having concerns about the borough’s Local Plan, blaming the Government’s housing targets and the complicated local plan system.

But now his tenure has ended, he insists he has no regrets about taking the job.

He added: “I do find it difficult when people criticise without even knowing me. People do not understand how much time you give to doing it. I worked 90 hours weeks and took a pay cut.

“We may have been wrong on a few occasions but we were doing what we thought was right at the time, knowing all the facts. But I don’t regret doing the job at all.”

He added: “I have more than enough to keep me busy in opposition and on Essex County Council. I might even have a bit of time to have a life.”