AFTER taking a big breath, Paul Dundas ponders when asked what it was like to embark on a new challenge as leader of Colchester Council in 2021.

The themes of the past two years have followed topics of uncertainty, financial turmoil and fresh challenges emerging at every corner as the nation coped with Covid-19.

And here Mr Dundas, who is an accountant by trade, finds himself sat at the heart of Colchester’s response to the pandemic, now eight months into his role.

But he admits he never really planned to become the leader.

He has only been a member of the council since 2018, when he was first elected to represent Stanway for the Conservatives.

Three years on, in 2021, and he had taken over the borough’s top job - as the head of the council’s new administration at one of the most critical periods in its history.

“It has been a steep learning curve,” said Mr Dundas, “and it is definitely one of the more challenging things I have done but, like all challenges, it’s enjoyable.

“What has really impressed me is the officers in the council, they are all so dedicated to bringing the best to Colchester.”

And now, with May’s local elections on the horizon, the council leader said he has no plans to slow down.

But it won’t be easy for Colchester’s Conservative Group - it only won control of the council last year when the Highwoods Independents turned their backs on the coalition and stepped in to provide the final three seats required to secure a majority.

“It has been a successful coalition,” argues Mr Dundas, “we have worked very well together, I think.”

But, hungry for more, he admits there will be a “fight” for every available seat as the leader looks to gain a stronger majority this May.

The battle will be made all the harder with the discord among the party at national level.

Leader - Self-confessed Essex boy Paul Dundas fell in love with Colchester during his days at the University of Essex

Leader - Self-confessed "Essex boy" Paul Dundas fell in love with Colchester during his days at the University of Essex

Mr Dundas said: “All we can do is put out our local message and get people to trust in what we can do.

“We have done a lot of work and put a lot of groundwork in place for some really ambitious stuff. I hope people can trust us to keep going.”

Among the challenges in his sights are the creation of a new bus station and a use for the former Debenhams in Culver Square.

And with numbers being central to his day job, it’s no surprise the accountant is keen to ensure the council is as cost-efficient and run as scrupulously as possible.

He points out the day-to-day running costs of Colchester Council were reduced by £2.4million in 2021, and he says next year he aims to cut another £2million from this.

“My priorities are bringing lots of good plans into fruition and ensuring the council is run in the most effective way possible.

“We made these cost reductions without cutting any services, which I am really proud of.

“Thanks to the long, hard work of staff and balancing the books, no-one lost their jobs and I feel this is the best way forward.”

A self-confessed “Essex boy”, Mr Dundas grew up in Maldon before moving to Colchester as a student to study at the University of Essex. Loving the town so much, he never left and he even married a Colchester girl.

It’s why he believes so passionately in the area which has given him so much, and why he feels he is the right man to be in the driving seat.

He added: “I think it is an exciting time here in Colchester. We all know it has had an enormous amount of expansion and there are certainly big things to come.

“It’s time for us to keep pushing on and for Colchester to catch up.”