Adur District Council elects new chairman

Ann Bridges, a Conservative councillor for Widewater ward, was unanimously voted into the post by her colleagues. She takes over from Carson Albury, who started the meeting at the Shoreham Centre on Thursday.

Mr Albury said: “I have a number of people to thank but at the top of my list is my wife Carol, for being so tolerant of my coming in at all hours of the night.”

He said his most memorable moment was visiting Elmcroft Care Home for the 101st birthday of resident Ruth Gates.

“She was an absolutely marvellous lady and I learned one thing – never challenge a 101-year-old to do the hokey cokey. I had to sit down after ten minutes and she was still hard at it.”

Mr Albury then presented cheques to representatives from his chosen charities for his year as chairman. Marion Pescott accepted one on behalf of Electric Storm Youth and Sir Patrick Cable-Alexander, chairman of the West Sussex branch of the Friends of Sussex Hospices, also accepted a cheque.

Mrs Bridges said she would continue the hard work of her predecessor.

“I want to continue working for the community, which is the most important thing, and to promote Adur District Council both in the area and further afield.”

Mrs Bridges became Adur District Councillor for Widewater ward in 2008 and was elected to that ward again in 2012 and 2016.

She is also on Lancing Parish Council and was its chairman for five years.

Another former chairman of the parish council, James Butcher, will be vice-chairman of Adur District Council for the next year.

During the meeting, Joss Loader was voted as vice-chairman of the scrutiny committee, Peter Metcalfe was voted as chairman of the planning committee, and Brian Coomber became chairman of the licencing committee.

George Barton also was voted as chairman of the joint governance committee.