Horsham District councillor moves to Worthing Borough

A Horsham District Councillor who has moved out of the district says he is committed to serving his ward.

David Coldwell (Con, Bramber, Upper Beeding and Woodmancote) recently moved to Worthing, but he assured residents can contact him as they have done before.

He told the County Times: “I am going to be carrying on as a district councillor. I’m up and down from my ward three times a week as a matter of routine and I serve on planning and the standards committees. I’ve been living outside the district for six months, first in Mid Sussex. I’m not a million miles away.”

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A Horsham District Council spokesman said: “Moving out of the local authority area is not a reason for disqualification from being a Horsham District Councillor.

“The qualifications for election and holding office as a member of a local authority are contacted in section 79 (1) (a) to (e) of the Local Government Act 1972. Provided a candidate qualifies under at least one of the clauses on the day of nomination and the day of election, once elected he or she will remain a member of the local authority unless he or she chooses to resign or becomes disqualified.”

The requirements include that they are and thereafter continue to be a local government elector for the area or the authority; that they own or rent land or other premises in the area, or lives or worked in the are in the preceding 12 months before election or nomination day.

Mr Coldwell would have to qualify for at least one of these to stand for re-election.