Talks of political dangers, protesters, leadership and Chair elections dominated today’s Wealden District Council Full Council Meeting at Wealden District Council offices in Hailsham.
There was some interesting discussions and important points raised by all involved, however the issue is the meeting was somewhat overshadowed by members of the public, in the public gallery being kicked out due to talking whilst councilors were speaking.
The three people aimed their frustration and “protest” predominantly at newly elected Wealden District Council leader, Green Party Rachel Millward (pictured below during protest).
The people shouted slurs towards Millward including shouting, “Shame on you Rachel Millward, Traitor”. The chair of the council, Mr Gavin Blake-Coggins “suspended” the meeting in alignment with the constitution and ordered the public gallery to be cleared out. The group refused to leave and began talking and arguing with the security and members of the council.
After around five to ten minutes the group decided to leave.
The group are believed to be protesting due to anger and fears over the use of Crowborough training camp as accommodation for migrants who have been moved out of hotels, part of the governments plan to end all use of hotels to house migrants and asylum seekers by the end of parliament, in 2029.
Who has been elected leader of Wealden District Council?
The Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward has been elected as leader of Wealden District Council, the council is a Green Party and Liberal Democrats coalition council, as part as an agreement between the WDC Green Party Leader, Cllr Millward, and WDC Liberal Democrats Leader, James Partridge
In Cllr Millward’s and Cllr Partridge’s agreement, they will take it in turns to be leader, and deputy leader. To give you an idea on how that works, take a look at the timeline below:
May 2023 – May 2024: Served as Joint-Leader / Deputy Leader alongside Liberal Democrat James Partridge.
May 2024 – May 2025: Served as the Leader of Wealden District Council. May 2025 – May 2026: Served as Joint-Leader / Deputy Leader alongside Liberal Democrat James Partridge. May 2026 – May 2027: Serving as the Leader of Wealden District Council
Who has been elected chair and vice chair of Wealden District Council?
Cllr Gavin Blake-Coggins has been re-elected for a second year as chair of Wealden District Council, as the only nominee, he took his oath and has assumed the office of Chair.
Working alongside Cllr Blake-Coggins is Cllr Jessika Hulbert, who has also been re-elected for a second year as vice chair. Again as the only nominee, she took her oath and has assumed the office of Vice Chair.
Who has been appointed to the council cabinet?
Newly elected council leader Cllr Millward decided to keep the cabinet as it is now, the only change made would be former council leader Cllr James Partridge would be made deputy leader of the council, the rest of the cabinet is as follows:
- Councillor Rachel Millward – (Leader of the Council) – Community, Culture and Communications
- Councillor James Partridge – (Deputy Leader of the Council) – Governance, Waste and Local Economy
- Councillor Ian Tysh – Planning and Environment
- Councillor Paul Coleshill – Climate Change
- Councillor Greg Collins – Finance, Human Resources and Customer Services
- Councillor Daniel Manvell – Housing, Benefits and Revenues
- Councillor Kelvin Williams – Public Health and Asset Management
Members Motion – Get Great Together
Labour Cllr Daniel Manvell proposed the following motion, of which all members voted to pass this motion.
This debate and discussion was genuinely deeply meaningful with Cllr Johanne Howell saying “My children have asked me to withdraw from politics entirely because they were worried about my personal safety”
Cllr Ben Cox went on afterwards to say “I almost didn’t stand at this election because my partner said she didn’t want me to stand”.
He then went on to say “I have never published a photo of my child online because I get death threats quite regularly because I stand out and put myself out there”.
Is this what politics has come too? threats? danger? violence?
We can not carry on this way.