'Missing' Tory quits Rotherham Council

Gavin Sharp has vacated his Wales Ward post just six weeks before it goes up for election.

He had not been selected by the party to stand again.

Conservative group leader Cllr John Gilding had discussions with bank worker Mr Sharp about his absence from meetings last year.

He said: “We had words with Gavin about 12 months ago about his attendance. He had taken on a new role in his work, which required him to travel around the country.

“We said that it might be as well if he finished there and then but he assured us that he was hoping to be in Rotherham more and that his attendance record would improve.

“Why he has decided to go at this late stage I have no idea.”

Mr Sharp had not attended a full council meeting since May 2009.

Dominic Beck, Labour candidate for Wales, described Mr Sharp as “elusive” and the timing of his departure as “incredibly odd.”

He added: “I doubt that Gavin Sharp has done this because he feels that he can’t commit his time to the people of Wales.

“And suddenly realising that being a borough councillor wasn’t for him is even more unlikely, given that he had nearly four years to make up his mind.

“It leaves only one sensible explanation. That Gavin Sharp is firing a last-ditch bullet at the Rotherham Conservatives whom he has felt increasingly disillusioned towards.

“This is, if nothing else, a justification from a former Conservative councillor in Rotherham that the Tories are not fit for purpose.

“The Wales ward electorate deserve better and I hope residents will vote for a better deal locally and elect a Labour borough councillor.”

Gill Shaw, currently chairman of Wales Parish Council, will stand in Mr Sharp’s place for the Conservatives in May.

She said: “What I would like to see is more things happening in our ward.

“We’ve got the 2011 list of which roads will be repaired and there’s nothing at all in our area.

“If I’m elected I will be at meetings and I will fight my hardest for the people of my ward.”

Mr Sharp, who was unavailable for comment this week, was elected in 2007 and was a member of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

A spokesman for Rotherham Borough Council confirmed that his seat would not be filled before the May 5 election.

The borough council now comprises 50 Labour members, eight Tories, three independents and one BNP.