Council’s mental health champion resigns from Lewes Green group

In a letter posted on Twitter on Wednesday (March 11), Ouse Valley and Ringmer councillor Sean Macleod announced he is resigning from the party’s council group. 

It is understood Cllr Macleod is set to join the council’s independent group, which forms part of the cross-party alliance controlling the council.

In his letter, Cllr Macleod sets out a number of reasons for his resignation from the Green Party group, including what he describes as “potential staff changes” having “a negative effect” on staff.

He wrote: “While my heart remains in the Green Party some things have happened that I am struggling to accept, including potential staff changes happening within the council. 

“I appreciate that times are hard within councils and sometimes difficult choices have to be made but I cannot accept some changes that appear to be coming. 

“One thing I stood for was that I wanted to champion mental health at Lewes DC and since being elected it’s been clear that some of the changes happening have had a negative effect on the emotional wellbeing of staff. 

“I feel the council already struggles to operate effectively within certain departments and some of the changes would make this even harder, leading to greater pressure on our already overworked staff. 

“Put simply, I would not have supported the budget changes had I known what the potential outcome would be. 

“I take significant issue with the up-skilling of frontline staff while we continue to pay them the same low wages, making their jobs even harder while we cut core services that are struggling.”

Cllr Macleod’s letter goes on to cite concerns around the council’s decision to increase council tax and says he “was not fully aware” of the staffing changes when he voted to support it.