Cabinet changes at Arun District Council

Hugh Coster, who helped unseat former Tory leader Gill Brown last year in Aldwick East, will oversee commercial management, post-Covid 19 recovery and the change from cabinet to committee system in 2021.

This new portfolio will expand the cabinet from seven to eight.

Daniel Purchase, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, is standing down due to the imminent arrival of his second child and will be succeeded by fellow Lib Dem Samantha Staniforth.

The changes will be proposed by Arun council leader James Walsh at the annual council meeting on Wednesday May 20.

He said the extra cabinet post would be expanded at no extra cost in member allowances.

Dr Walsh added: “This will broaden the cabinet to include a member from the independent group who are supporting the Liberal Democrat administration along with the two Green Party members.

“It is going to be a very challenging year, as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, and begin to come out of lockdown later, and begin the process of rebuilding the local economy, and ensuring safe working conditions for all.”

The changes come as the opposition Conservative group formally announced the members of its shadow cabinet.

They are: Terry Chapman, group leader and corporate affairs, Paul Dendle, deputy leader and neighbourhood services, Shaun Gunner, district economy, Jacky Pendleton, residential services, Dave Edwards, technical services, Mike Clayden, community wellbeing, Andy Cooper, business improvement and John Charles, planning.

After more than four decades in power the Tories lost control of Arun after last May’s council election, with the Lib Dems forming an administration with support from the Greens and most independent councillors.

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