Annual council meeting will decide on new structure

Councillors will be meeting at Adur Civic Centre, in Ham Road, Shoreham, at 7pm to appoint the new chairman and vice-chairman for the year ahead, and elect the council leader for a four-year term, ending in 2018.

They will also hear the new political breakdown of the council following the elections on May 22, which will affect membership of the committees.

There are now 20 Conservative councillors (68.97 per cent), six from UKIP (20.69 per cent), two independents from Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association (6.90 per cent), one Liberal Democrat (3.45 per cent) and one from Labour (3.45 per cent).

Director for communities John Mitchell explained the rules on political representation meant the Conservatives were entitled to 41 seats on committees, UKIP were allowed 12 and SBRA four.

He pointed out: “A political group comprises two or more members.”

The political balance requirements apply to the planning, licensing, and overview and scrutiny committees. They also apply to joint committees, except the joint strategic committee, but do not apply to cabinet or census joint committee.