Green Councillors’ Update

You may have seen recent news about Fusion, the company that runs our local leisure centres, entering administration. We want to clarify for residents that the council has not taken over running the centres. Instead, it has stepped in temporarily to keep facilities open while a new operator is found.
This means your local gym, exercise classes and children’s swimming lessons should continue as normal for now. Staff remain in place, and the focus is on maintaining day to day services while the situation is resolved. Behind the scenes, work is already underway to secure a new provider as quickly as possible.
The reorganisation of councils is having a direct impact locally, as there is still huge uncertainty around future elections. At the moment, different scenarios are on the table, including the possibility of parish and ‘shadow’ unitary elections going ahead in May 2027.
There is also uncertainty around borough councillors’ terms, which could potentially be extended, or we could see borough elections take place again but only for a short period if those unitary elections do not go ahead as planned.
The reality is that we still do not have firm answers. Until the necessary legislation is in place (which is not expected until around September or October) councils are having to plan for multiple possibilities at once.
That is not a sensible or transparent way to run local democracy. Residents, councillors and councils deserve clear, straight answers from Government about what elections will take place and when, rather than being left guessing.
David Infield, Andy Haynes, Laurie Needham, Sandra Woodward, Chris O’Neill