Row over calls for Brighton councillors' resignations continues

Councillor Bridget Fishleigh, who represents Rottingdean Coastal on Brighton and Hove City Council, called on Labour’s Robert Mcintosh and Conservative Mary Mears to step down after being unable to fulfil their duties due to illness.

The pair, who also represent Rottingdean, have not attended council meetings due to medical issues, with Cllr Fishleigh claiming that she has had to pick up extra work without support.

Wishing both councillors a speedy recovery, she told The Argus: “We are elected for four years to represent residents, if someone’s personal circumstances change and they can’t do their council duties, then I believe they should step down.”

'If she thinks she is not liked, she should ask herself why'

However, Conservative Councillor Dawn Barnett, a close colleague of Cllr Mears, has hit back and described the calls for their resignation as “very selfish”.

She said: “Cllr Fishleigh has a very high opinion of herself and thinks she is a cut above the rest.

“Her comments are very selfish - if she thinks she is not liked at the council, maybe she should ask herself why.”

Councillor Dawn Barnett described comments made by Cllr Fishleigh as "very selfish" (Image: Conservative group)

Cllr Barnett is substituting for Cllr Mears on the housing committee while she is recovering and described her as a “hard-working councillor”.

“Instead of complaining, Cllr Fishleigh should lend a hand," she said. "For a start, she should take up her seat on a council committee like every other councillor does and is expected to do.”

'I'm not the issue' - Cllr Fishleigh

The row got heated earlier this week, after Cllr Fishleigh condemned the leader of the Conservative group Steve Bell for claiming she has “thrown her vote away” by not taking up a seat on a decision-making committee.

She said: “I was on the planning committee for three years, and I stepped down so I could have more time for the ward to cover for Cllr Mears so f*** him.”

Responding to comments made by Cllr Barnett, Cllr Fishleigh said: “She is entitled to her opinion - of course, I am not unsympathetic to their ill health. I am merely making the point that they are elected to represent residents, that’s their job and if they are on long-term sick leave, then they’re not doing that job.

“The political parties can make personal comments about me but I’m not the issue - the issue is the long-term absence of these councillors.”

Cllr Robert Mcintosh and Cllr Mary Mears have both been absent due to ill health

Cllr Mears, who has served as a councillor for almost 20 years, had been due to be the next mayor of Brighton and Hove but fell ill in March and has been absent from council meetings ever since.

Cllr Mcintosh, who stood for Labour at a by-election in May, received a diagnosis of bowel cancer during the campaign and is understood to be recovering from surgery.

Cllr Fishleigh said that if the pair stood down now then they could run again at the local elections in May when they have recovered.

Labour criticise 'unsympathetic response'

Co-leader of the Labour group Carmen Appich expressed her disappointment with Cllr Fishleigh’s “unsympathetic response” to the illness of both Cllr Mcintosh and Cllr Mears.

She said that the group, along with the office of Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, have responded to Cllr Mcintosh’s casework in his absence.

“So far, we have dealt with over 50 cases, including replacing a bus shelter destroyed by Storm Eunice and a review by the council on Falmer Road safety following an incident.”

Cllr Fishleigh disputed this and said: “That bus shelter was replaced as a result of actions taken by myself and Rottingdean Parish Council, so I don’t appreciate the political parties taking credit for other people’s work. That’s not what other people on the ground are experiencing.

“It would be more helpful if, instead of writing statements to The Argus that are inaccurate, the political parties reached out and asked if there’s anything I need a hand with due the councillors’ absence, as my to-do list is longer than my arm.”