Veteran Conservative councillor resigns after his deselection
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Jim Sanson has represented Storrington & Washington for just under 15 years.
In an email sent to all councillors, Mr Sanson wrote: “At a recent interview panel, I was deselected as a candidate for the Conservative Party, which left me no other option than to stand down as a district councillor.”
Mr Sanson was first elected in 2007.
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Hide AdHe served as chair of the licensing committee as well as sitting on a number of other committees such as standards and planning.
His decision to step down was first mentioned during a planning meeting in January – though a council spokesman denied he had resigned.
His seat was finally listed as vacant on the council’s website on February 4.
A second vacant seat was also listed in January – that of former Liberal Democrat group leader Frances Haigh, who has moved to North Yorkshire.
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Hide AdMrs Haigh, who represented Denne, was replaced as group leader in August by Louise Potter before stepping down on January 17.
She had served two terms – from 2011-2015 and then from 2019 on.
Thanking her for her work, Mrs Potter said Mrs Haigh had ‘brought with her a wealth of experience and expertise, which was valued across the council…and navigated us through what were some very challenging times for the council’.