Tory group leader at Arun steps down

Terence Chapman was replaced by Shaun Gunner at a virtual meeting of the council on Wednesday night (May 20) – with the latter launching an immediate attack on the ‘introspective’ leadership of the council.

The meeting was told Mr Chapman had been criticised by members of his own group on social media for a ‘lack of cross-party working’.

But Tony Dixon (Ind, Aldwick East) insisted the critics were wrong.

He said: “We have been working at cross-party level since the beginning of the pandemic and I thank Terry. I think he’s made a great contribution and he does it as a gentleman.”

Accepting the group leadership, Mr Gunner said: “I wasn’t expecting a week ago to find myself as leader – nor did I expect it to be in such a meeting.”

The meeting in question – annual council – was a five-and-a-half-hour marathon of disagreements and bickering between the leadership and opposition, as they fought each other on issue after issue.

Until last May, Arun was a Tory stronghold – dominant since 1973 – but now the Liberal Democrats run the show.

Mr Gunner was quick to share his feelings about the leadership shown over the past year, accusing them of being ‘introspective’ and ‘trying to settle the scores of the past’.

The Conservatives have made no secret of the fact they do not agree with plans to change the council from a cabinet system to a committee system next May.

And Mr Gunner echoed the shouts of ‘coalition’ when the meeting saw the cabinet increased from seven seats to eight – and the new seat handed to independent councillor Hugh Coster.

Mr Gunner said: “The Conservative group is looking to the future now.

“We’re thinking and planning for how we create a brighter future for Arun that is focussed on supporting the residents and businesses of this district.

“This means spending money on the right things and on the things that matter to the residents of the district.”

If he agreed with any criticism of Mr Chapman, Mr Gunner did not show it.

He said: “Terry has led us well over the last year. He kind of helped shepherd our transition into opposition and build a team to provide effective opposition.

“It’s been a big learning curve and I think today has demonstrated we’re still learning.”

Thanking Mr Chapman for both his long-term support and the support shown in the 24 hours before the meeting, he added: “They are big shoes to fill.

“For me, it’s the job of all councillors and the job of any council to consider the needs of their residents first and foremost.

“It has never been more important than now to have that consideration at the front of our minds. Every one of us must consider the needs of the people and businesses of this district.”

Council leader Dr James Walsh thanked Mr Chapman for being ‘a supportive leader of the opposition’.

He said: “We obviously don’t agree on everything politically but Terry has always been polite, constructive and very supportive in the discussions that we’ve had.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Chapman said: “I was re-elected, unopposed, in March of this year and almost immediately lockdown brought an end to the normal round of meetings and other face to face democratic processes.

“For whatever reason discontent within a faction of the Conservative group grew and, rather than allow this to grow, I stood aside in order to allow the group to elect a new leader behind whom they could unite and go forward.

“I am pleased to say that Cllr Shaun Gunner has emerged as leader elect and I look forward to supporting his leadership.”

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