Labour county councillor and Labour Group Leader Sue Mullins has formally submitted a letter of resignation to West Sussex County Council today. 

The resignation will mean a by-election in the county division of Northgate and West Green, with polling day currently anticipated to be on 2nd May, the same date as all-out elections for Crawley Borough Council following boundary changes, which will also see 36 councillors elected in the Borough.

This follows changes in personal circumstances for Mrs Mullins which have made it difficult to continue in her role as a county councillor due to the significant travelling required by county councillors in the parts of West Sussex furthest away from County Hall in Chichester.  The extent of travel often required, and the time it takes up on top of attending the meetings themselves, often makes the role extremely time-consuming for those councillors at the other end of the county as most meetings still take place at County Hall, and the distances are long particularly when compared to councillors from Borough or District councils.

• Sue Mullins is standing down after six years on the county council, four of which she has been Labour Group Leader.  She hopes to continue contributing to public life by standing as a candidate in the Crawley Borough elections in May.

• Sue was a teacher of special needs prior to becoming a councillor and is married to serving Labour Borough councillor for Gossops Green and Crawley Borough Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Chris Mullins.  Sue was county councillor for Gossops Green and Ifield East from 2013 until boundary changes in 2017, when she became county councillor for Northgate and West Green following boundary changes.

Following Cllr Mullins’ resignation, the Group Leader for the West Sussex Labour Group has been confirmed as county councillor Michael Jones (Lab, Southgate and Gossops Green).  

Cllr Jones praised Mrs Mullins for her contribution and commitment to public life, adding: “It is a very sad day, Sue Mullins is widely respected on the council and we thank her for her commitment and service to this county.  She has been a formidable campaigner, speaking up for all residents of West Sussex and the council has been all the better for her work. 

“I feel certain my councillor colleagues, Sue’s local residents and Labour party members from across West Sussex will want to join with me in thanking her deeply, and wishing her the very best for the future.  We will work in the forthcoming by-election to elect a new Labour county councillor who will be able to continue the fine work that she has done over the years.”