Three Worthing Borough Councillors have said they will not be standing for re-election next month.
Emma Taylor-Beal (Heene, Lab), Steve Waight (Con, Goring) and Dan Coxhill (Con, Durrington) will not be standing for in the May 2 local elections.
Cllr Taylor-Beal, who is currently the council’s cabinet member for housing and citizen services, was elected to the council in 2021, and joined the cabinet after Labour took control of the council in 2022.
She said:
“I cannot represent a national party that is so far out of line with my humanitarian and religious beliefs. Many are clearly able to separate themselves from the national picture but that is not me.
“Additionally, when my friends in East Worthing & Shoreham, Carl Walker and Cat Arnold were prevented by the national party from even being considered as the Parliamentary candidates in that seat, it was clear that the national party has no respect for its members who give so much of their time and energy locally.
“For now I will continue with my main employment at a global heat pump manufacturer – however, my passion for social housing is strong so I hope to find other ways to have a positive impact in this space.”
Cllr Coxhill was first elected in 2021, and said he was standing down after three years to focus on a career outside of politics and return to studying.
He said:
“Durrington ward remains in very capable hands with Cllr Charles James, who has been a great help to me since I was first elected, and who has many years of experience as a local councillor.
“There are a great many things to be proud of in the last few years, but I have often found the most rewarding things have been the numerous little changes that we have been able to achieve for local people.
“I would encourage anyone who wants to see changes in the local community to consider putting themselves forward to be a councillor. It is a really rewarding opportunity and a great privilege to have served."
Cllr Waight, who also serves as cabinet member for support services and economic development at West Sussex County Council, was first elected to the borough council in 1992 and the county council in 1995.
He said he would continue to serve as a county councillor for Goring until his term expired, but was moving out of the Worthing constituency and so would not be standing for re-election in the next local elections.
Tom Ellum will be running in place of Cllr Taylor-Beal in Heene, Josh Harris in place of Cllr Coxhill in Durrington, and Paisley Thomson in place of Cllr Waight in Goring.
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