To best serve his electorate, former Lib Dem councillor Neil Cleaver has announced he is joining the Conservative opposition group on Wealden District Council.
The member for Hailsham Central Ward, Cllr Cleaver left his former part earlier this month due to “Green Party influence” in the leadership of the authority which he sees as following left-wing ideology and its support for “ever greater inappropriate development”.
Conservative group leader, Cllr Ann Newton, said that Cllr Cleaver was very welcome to join her Group with his record of working hard on behalf of residents across the district.
“Cllr Cleaver is a highly-principled councillor and deeply committed to doing what is best for local residents”, said Cllr Newton. “We admire his honesty in admitting that he could no longer remain in an increasingly left-wing collation which was asking him to go against those principles.
"I know that he will continue to work hard in the best interests of those who elected him and for the wider good of Wealden district.”
In his resignation letter, Cllr Cleaver said that the council seems to have a focus on approving every planning application simply to meet a four-year housing land supply target without considering the pros and cons of each application.
“I will continue to represent their interests from a different political platform, one that doesn’t force me to put aside my views and conscience to support a goal I do not agree with,” he added.
The Conservative Group formally welcomed Cllr Cleaver at a meeting today. The change means the ruling coalition are left with a fragile working majority of just one and it is thought that other councillors are also considering their position, unhappy with the new Green Party leadership of the council.
