ANALYSIS: The ups and downs of James Alexander in York

JAMES Alexander sprang to prominence in May 2010 when, just days before a general election, he ousted David Scott as leader of the city council's opposition Labour group.

>>> MAIN STORY: James Alexander quits

The young Holgate councillor saw his chance at the group's annual meeting and seized it, in an act of political ruthlessness combined with youthful zeal that came to seem typical of his years in power.

In an interview a couple of days later, he was unrepentant. He wanted to lead Labour to local election victory in York the following May, he said.

>>> FLASHBACK: James Alexander wants to shake things up (May 2011)

He did just that a year later, sweeping to power on a night which saw the Liberal Democrats in York humiliated.

James Alexander after his 2011 election success, that saw former leaders Steve Galloway and Andrew Waller lose their seats

The new young leader quickly revealed himself to be impatient with the city's established political elite, vowing to shake up what he saw as the "concentration of power within a few institutions, families and companies."

But the 29-year-old also revealed a brash confidence bordering on cockiness, saying of the council's respected chief executive Kersten England: "I will be setting out in writing the expectations that we have for her."

From the outset, it was clear he was a young politician in a hurry. He was determined to get things done. Pinned to the wall next to his desk was a list of the manifesto commitments his group had made - and he obsessively ticked them off as he delivered on them: "get rid of the ftr purple buses", tick; "increase apprenticeships", tick; "set up a Fairness Commission", tick.

The Union Terrace plans sparked an angry backlash

But that very haste, combined with inexperience, may have helped land him in trouble. In his first year, there were rows over the Union Terrace car park and the closure of the Beckfield Lane waste recycling tip.

Opposition politicians also began complaining of a ruling Labour clique that was obsessed with control - and of a lack of transparency in council dealings. Both the Local Government Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner's Office seemed to share some of these concerns.

The Lendal Bridge row increased pressure on Labour

It was the Lendal Bridge fiasco that really saw support for Labour in York begin to drain away, however.

Labour councillors began to defect - until the party lost its majority, and opposition groups took charge of a series of key council committees.

Yesterday, Conservatives announced they would be calling for a vote of no confidence in the young council leader.

They won't need to. Cllr Alexander has announced that he will be resigning on December 11 to take up a national policy role with Labour.

There have been successes under his leadership. Unemployment is low, the city's economy has performed better than average, and the city has a good record on attracting inward investment, bringing businesses such as John Lewis and Hiscox to York.

There is also a chance of real progress on development of the York Central site.

Only time will tell whether, in the verdict of history, these achievements will outweigh the negatives that have dogged Labour under the last months of Cllr Alexander's reign.