A Wokingham Borough councillor has stepped down from her role with immediate effect. citing “personal reasons”.
Sarah Bell, the former ward member for Shinfield, announced her resignation to residents on social media today last week.
The Labour member said that her ‘ongoing personal circumstances have adversely impacted’ her ‘ability to balance the needs of residents and the Council’ with her family needs.
Ms Bell wrote on Facebook: “I feel that I can no longer sustainably deliver the role in the way I want to for our community, but I sincerely hope that everyone who has sought my support or interacted with me so far has felt welcomed, heard and cared for.”
The former councillor was first elected in May of this year and was one of eight Labour representatives in the chamber.
Ms Bell said that the community she represents faces ‘challenges’ and that she acknowledges residents may feel ‘let down and disappointed’ by her decision.
Elected in this year’s local elections, she served as a councillor for just more than four months.
She worked alongside fellow Labour member for Shinfield councillor Andrew Gray, as well as Conservative Shinfield ward member councillor Vishal Srinivasan.
Cllr Rachel Burgess, the leader of the Labour group on Wokingham Borough Council, told Wokingham Today: “Sarah has been a brilliant and extremely dedicated councillor and will be missed by the Labour group, the wider Council and of course by her residents.
“I know that she will continue to play a hugely positive role in the Shinfield community, and we wish her well.”
Although a date for the by-election has yet to be announced, canvassing has already begun in the ward.
A win for the Liberal Democrats would mean they gain overall control of Wokingham Borough Council, from the current position of no overall control.
