Ten councillors stepping down on polling day

Warm-ups for May’s local elections have started with cross party tributes to councillors planning to step down on polling day.

Voters are scheduled to cast their ballots on Thursday, May 6, with a total of 29 seats onSunderlandCityCouncilup for grabs.

Of these, at least 10 representatives have already announced their decision not to stand again, with high profile departures including two recent cabinet members and the former leader of the city’s Conservative opposition group, RobertOliver,whowaspraised by his chief rival, Labour council leader Graeme Miller.

“Whether you’re Labour or Conservative makes no difference,”hesaid,“[standing]tobe elected is a brave act in itself.

“Robert and I have known each other for some time, he’s been the leader of the majority party in opposition when they were losing councillors, down tothe‘supersix’,butbecauseof his hard work he kept them as a group during difficult times.

“The group is now flourishing because of the work he did to stabilise them [and people] needtounderstandthatishard work.

“Enjoyyourretirementand I genuinely will miss all of you.”

At least one seat in all of Wearside’s 25 wards will be contested on polling day, with double elections in three of them.

In four wards, vacancies have been left by representatives who have either quit the local authority early or, as in the case of former cabinet member and Shiney Row councillor Geoff Walker, sadly died while in office.

Thecouncillorswhoaredue tostanddowninMayare:Anne Lawson; Robert Oliver; Amy Wilson; Bob Francis; John Kelly; Bernard Scaplehorn; Ronny Davison; Paula Hunt; Julia Jackson; Christine Marshall.