Cannock Chase councillor returns to district chamber after by-election win
Cannock Chase councillors have welcomed back a previous member to the chamber following last month’s by-election – but another vacancy has arisen following the death of the authority’s former vice chair.
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Conservative Sam Thompson lost her Heath Hayes East and Wimblebury seat at the 2023 district council election to Labour’s Julie Aston, when there were just 40 votes between the two.
In May it was the Tories’ turn to take a Labour seat, at the by-election to fill a vacancy on the district council left by Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury. His former Norton Canes seat went to Councillor Thompson, who won 1,256 votes while Labour candidate Timothy Frondigoun came second with 469.
At last month’s annual council meeting Councillor Thompson was welcomed back to the chamber by council chair Steve Thornley. Speaking after the meeting she said: “I’m over the moon to be back.
“I’m really pleased that people have put their faith in me. All I’ve ever wanted to do is work for people.”
The annual meeting saw Councillor Thornley retain his seat at the top table for another year after fellow members voted for him to remain as council chair. He distributed £3,280 raised during his 2024/25 civic year to representatives from his chosen charities, Special Needs Adventure Playground and 1st Blackfords Sea Scouts.
The vice-chair’s seat was empty at the start of the meeting however, after Fred Prestwood’s sudden death earlier in the week, and his passing was marked by moving tributes from fellow councillors and observation of two minutes’ silence. It means there is now a vacancy in the Hednesford Green Heath ward.
Another Hednesford Green Heath ward councillor, Garry Samuels, was elected as the new vice chair for the 2025/26 civic year. The Labour member won his council seat at last year’s election.
