A Labour councillor has said that she intends to stand down at the end of next month for family reasons, triggering a by-election.
Tracey Hill, 50, has represented Hollingdean and Stanmer on Brighton and Hove City Council for almost six years and chaired the Planning Committee until the Greens took over. She previously chaired the Housing Committee.
Labour said: “Councillor Hill, who was first elected to the council in May 2015, and was re-elected in May 2019, has taken the decision to resign her post in order to move away from the city to take on caring responsibilities.
“Her time on the council has included stints as chair of the Planning and Housing Committees, as well as serving on the Licensing Committee.
“She is expecting to resign around the end of February.”
Councillor Tracey Hill said: “I’m really sad to be stepping down early from my councillor role but family circumstances have made it necessary.
“I’ve enjoyed my time on Brighton and Hove City Council and I’m glad I was able to serve as part of a Labour administration that did so many positive things for the city.
“I will miss being a councillor, particularly the residents of Hollingdean and Stanmer, who I feel privileged to have represented.
“I wish my Labour colleagues all the best for the future and want to thank them and all the officers I’ve worked with for their hard work and dedication.”
Labour leader Nancy Platts said: “I am very sorry to lose Tracey from the Labour group and I personally want to thank her for her tremendous contribution to the Labour Party both as a member and subsequently as a councillor.
“She has worked hard for her residents in Hollingdean and Stanmer for over five years and shown huge dedication to her work on committees too.
“She will be a great loss to the local Labour Party and to the council.”
Councillor Platts added: “We know this has been an incredibly difficult decision and, as usual, Tracey has approached it with honesty and integrity, thinking about what is best for her family and her residents and putting them first.
“Labour colleagues join me in being sad to see her go and we want to wish her and her family all the very best for the future.”
With Councillor Hill yet to resign formally, no date has been set for the by-election.
Her ward is also represented by her Labour colleague, Councillor Theresa Fowler, and by a Green, Councillor Martin Osborne.
The council has 54 councillors, with 28 seats required for a majority. The Greens are the biggest party, with 19 councillors. Labour has 18 councillors, although one, Anne Pissaridou, is suspended from the party until the summer. The Conservatives have 13. And there are four independents, two of whom were previously Labour councillors.
Labour said: “Councillor Hill, who was first elected to the council in May 2015, and was re-elected in May 2019, has taken the decision to resign her post in order to move away from the city to take on caring responsibilities.
Rats and ships spring to mind
That’s a rather ungenerous mean spirited cynical comment.
By all accounts Tracey Hill has been a hardworking city councillor who will be missed not only by colleagues in her own party but by councillors across the chamber. I’m sure that she n it came to deciding whether to continue serving on the Council or stepping down to dedicate herself to the onerous responsibilities of becoming carer for a family member, she would not have hesitated to put her family member first.
Rather than hint at darker motives for giving advance warning that she intends to resign, you should be thanking her for her public service and wish her and her family well for the future. I certainly do.
One wishes cllr Hill well in this turn to her life. To be a carer is no easy task, and it is impressive that she has taken it on.
Meanwhile, if Labour keeps the Hollingdean seat and cllr Pissaridou is readmitted in the summer, that makes it 19 seats each for Greens and Labour. Of course, it might well be that Elections are postponed again across the country as there is scant sign that covid will be over by May – let alone by the time that campaigning begins.
19 a piece maybe time for a new local political party. And a new election to see it we can get a majority or clear winning party!
There is space for a new grassroots party which gives at least 50% of the positions to born and raised brightonians and those from working class backgrounds
Too many coop-tees around nowadays and this needs to change. We need class diversity. The chamber is too white and privileged in my view
Just saying