Conservative councillors comprise a new political grouping known as Wealden Partners has been formally established at Wealden District Council.
The group brings together councillors from the Independent and Conservative groups in a joint effort to strengthen the effectiveness of opposition at the council and ensure that residents across the district continue to be properly represented.
While both groups will retain their distinct political identities and maintain full voting independence, they will work more closely under the Wealden Partners umbrella to provide a more coordinated and robust response to decisions made by the Council’s ruling Green–Liberal Democrat–Labour Alliance.
The formation of Wealden Partners makes it the largest opposition group on Wealden District Council. The group is being led by Cllr Ann Newton (Conservative), with Cllr David White (Independent) serving as Deputy Leader.
This new arrangement follows a series of controversial constitutional changes introduced by the Alliance, including reductions in planning committee sizes and new limits on substitute members; measures which have made it harder for councillors to participate fully in the democratic process and speak up for their communities, particularly on matters as critical as planning and development.
“We’ve come together not as one party, but as two groups who share a commitment to democratic accountability, local transparency and the right of residents to be properly represented,” said Conservative Leader, Cllr Ann Newton. “By coordinating more closely, we can form a stronger, more effective opposition that is better equipped to scrutinise decisions and hold the administration to account.”
Cllr White added: “This is about ensuring that every resident, no matter who they voted for, continues to have a voice in Council debates. Wealden Partners reflects a shared commitment to independent thinking, open discussion, and fair representation. We may have different political perspectives, but we’re united in wanting to protect democratic standards and challenge decisions where necessary.”
Wealden Partners will continue to uphold the values of respectful disagreement, resident engagement, and constructive scrutiny — offering an alternative approach to Council business that places community interests above politics.
- Wealden District Council is currently governed by a coalition of Green, Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors following the May 2023 local elections.
- Recent constitutional changes have included reducing the size of key planning committees from 12 to 9 members, and limiting the use of substitute members, raising concerns about reduced community representation.
- The Wealden Partners group consists of councillors from the Independent and Conservative groups who are committed to maintaining their political independence while cooperating on matters of scrutiny, governance and accountability.
- Councillor Ann Newton is the former Leader and Deputy Leader of Wealden District Council and a senior figure in the Conservative group. Councillor David White is a long-standing Independent councillor with a record of resident-focused advocacy
