Eastbourne councillor chair of county

Conservative Bob Lacey, who represents Upperton on the county council at Lewes, took up his new position on Tuesday.

He replaces fellow Conservative John Barnes and one of his first tasks was to chair the full county council meeting at County Hall.

Nominating Councillor Lacey, county council leader Peter Jones, said he was a 'distinguished member of the council who had played a prominent role in local government'.

"He comes to us as chairman with a great range of experience and is an extremely nice person and fun to be with," said Councillor Jones.

Councillor Lacey, who has three daughters, said he was very grateful for the opportunity to serve as chair and added, "It is an honour not only for me but for Eastbourne itself."

Councillor Lacey said fundraising through his time as chairman would be directed to young people across the county.

He was one of seven Conservative councillors who were voted out and lost their seats in the election to Eastbourne Borough Council earlier this month.

He was first elected in 1998 for the Upperton ward until the defeat at the hands of the Liberal Democrats in the May 3 borough election