WHEN he took on the role last year, Mark Cory was Colchester Council’s youngest ever leader.

And at the age of 32, as he enters the second year of his premiership, he still holds that accolade.

But despite his tender years, he’s no newcomer to politics having spent 12 years representing his beloved Wivenhoe on the council.

However, he admits when he decided to move from promising young politician to inexperienced council leader in 2018, it was something of a leap of faith.

With the Conservative opposition lacking an overall majority by just one seat, he also admits he wasn’t quite sure whether he’d make it to a second term following May’s elections.

“Politically I thought before I started I may only have one year in the role,” he said.

“But we turned that around through the hard work of campaigners and certain policies.

“It was a brave move to become leader, especially with the political equation and the fact we had a one seat majority made it a real challenge.

“It was also an opportunity to prove myself. It really was a full on, difficult year. Every decision needed the full support of the coalition.”

Despite the political make-up of the council being balanced on a knife-edge, Mr Cory says there is a lot he is proud of from the last year.

“We tackled issues which mean a lot to people such as police funding, cleaning our streets, putting more focus on heritage and putting over £3 million into housing and emergency housing to try to reduce homelessness,” he said.

“My style is about bringing people together, so I have offered olive branches to the opposition offering them seats at the table and that is what I think the public want to see - people working across the boundaries.

“Communication with the public is so difficult to get right but I have tried to open up the process. These are all things I felt needed improvement and that is just the start. There is a lot more to do.”

This doesn’t mean there haven’t been disappointments, however, and he is the first to admit mistakes have been made.

There was a steep learning curve for him and a precarious political situation to contend with.

The furore and opposition to Alumno’s Cultural Quarter proposals in particular stand out.

The firm applied to build 336 student flats, an 87-bed Travelodge hotel, retail units and open space on a prime piece of land off of Queen Street.

A few defended the scheme, but the public outcry was deafening.

“At certain times there have been issues with certain decisions which have been made,” Mr Cory said. “I wish I could have been around the table with community groups more, for example in the case of Alumno.

“With the Local Plan I wish I could take two years and go back and involve people more in the process.”

The history teacher, who took a pay cut in order to take the role of leader of the council, said he is beginning to learn to take criticism on the chin, although it has been a struggle.

“I was concerned about things before putting my head above the parapet,” he said.

“I have been a councillor and a cabinet member before but as leader the buck stops with you.

“In the age of social media, Brexit, and fake news it is difficult to be a leading politician.

“When you are trying remain genuine, honest and keep your integrity, the nasty comments definitely make you question is it worth it?

“But I stand up and get counted. Many of the dissenters do not. My significant vote share this year also testifies I should keep at it.”

In his Wivenhoe ward he is as popular as ever, if not more so. On election night, he had a landslide victory, with nearly 1,600 more votes than his nearest rival.

But that doesn’t stop the comments from getting to him.

He continued: “I have no vested interest and I am not from a privileged background.

“I understand every day issues and it does sometimes upset me the way people say things online like I am out of touch and do not know what I am doing.

“I do have some regrets at times. I am getting older and do not have a good enough work life balance and do not see my family enough or have a partner.

“My quality of life has probably suffered as a result of doing this. I have more grey hairs than I have ever had.”

But he isn’t ready to step aside just yet. With a strengthened majority in the council chamber after a dramatic election night, it appears the progressive alliance of the Lib Dems, Labour and the Highwoods Independents has a brighter future.

There are many issues he still wants to tackle, and benefits he feels he can bring to the borough he loves.

He said: “Personally, and for the coalition I feel more confident this year. I do think we can be more bold but also bold in asking and working with the public better.

“Things like being more radical on the environment and ideas like electric hopper buses for the town centre, which is a long-term aim but has to start somewhere.

“A museum which brings together all of Colchester’s history in one place is also a longer term goal.”

He added: “I seem to be predisposed to public service and public duty; it is part of who I am.”