Release date: 8 May 2021
The Conservatives have retained control of West Sussex County Council following the local elections on Thursday 6 May.
After the votes were counted at the end of last week and into the weekend, the Liberal Democrats remain the largest minority party at County Hall.
The new composition of the 70-member council is:
- Conservatives: 48 councillors
- Liberal Democrats: 10 councillors
- Labour: 9 councillors
- Green Party: 1 councillor
- Independent: 1 councillor
- Local Alliance: 1 councillor
Becky Shaw, Chief Executive of West Sussex County Council said: “The circumstances of these elections have been very unusual for all involved, and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the district and borough councils for running the local elections so efficiently and safely.
“A lot of work and effort goes into running any election, but the added challenges of running an election during the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be underestimated. Thank you as well to everyone who ran the network of polling stations across the county and worked so hard to keep residents safe whilst they used their democratic right to vote.”
Before the elections the Conservatives held 50 seats on the council, Liberal Democrats 8, Labour 4, Independent members 4, Independent Conservatives 2 and 2 vacancies.
The first meeting of the new-look council will be on Friday 21 May, when the Chairman, the Leader of the council and all of the council’s committees will be appointed. The meeting will be webcast online.
