Councillor resigns
A CHARNWOOD Borough councillor and the former leader of the group’s Labour Party has stepped down after being on the council for more than five years.
Robert Sharp, who represented Loughborough Shelthorpe, has resigned as a borough councillor. He joined the council back in 2011.
Mr Sharp is a former leader of the Labour group, and sat as a Leicestershire County Councillor for Loughborough South from 2013 until May this year.
He was the county’s Labour leader, but lost his seat in last month’s elections.
Mr Sharp told the Echo: “Having lost the county council election I thought it’s time to do something else and let others have the opportunity to serve on the borough council.
“I think it’s tough being in the opposition group, and a small one at that. There is some excellent councillors there, that will continue to represent residents well.
“I hope Labour win the Shelthorpe seat and they con- tinue to have a Labour councillor which Shelthorpe desperately needs.”
Leader of the borough council’s Labour Group, Coun Jewel Miah, told the Echo: “I think Robert has decided to go to pastures new and take on different challenges.
“He will definitely be missed both by the Labour Group and by the borough council.
“There will be a by-election in the new few weeks.
“I wish Robert all the best for the future and understand his decision to move on.”