Lib Dems elect youngest ever chair of council

3.55.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th May 2008

Councillor Carla Butler became the youngest ever chair of Lewes District Council last week.

Newhaven Councillor Carla Butler became the youngest ever chair of Lewes District council last week. Read her article on youth participation in today's Argus: http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.2283569.0.0.php

The youngest ever cabinet member was also elected as Lewes Bridge councillor James MacCleary became lead member for communities.

Carla has just completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Sussex and will be combining a Masters in professional legal practice with a part-time legal practice course at Guildford College of Law from September 2008. She works part time for EDF Energy to support herself through her degree.

She has been a Newhaven Town Councillor since 2002 and was elected to the District Council in May 2007. During her time on both Councils, Carla has focused particularly on equality issues having served on the Access in Newhaven and Seaford Group, and Eastbourne and Lewes Victim and Witness Support. She is currently a member of the District Council's Traveller Working Group.

Chair of Lewes District Council for 2008 to 2009, Carla's theme for her year of office is Citizenship, she said "I am very keen during the coming year to involve individuals, groups and communities and enable them to celebrate shared values. I want to encourage them to work together to enhance the community in which they live. I also want to support young people living in the District who, I think, often get a bad press".

Carla aged 26 is the youngest person to be appointed as Chair of Lewes District Council.

At the Annual Council Meeting the decision was taken that Councillor James MacCleary be Lead Councillor for Community, he replaces Cllr David Gray, who is the new Vice Chair of the Council. It was also agreed that Cllr Chris Bowers be Lead Councillor for Environment for the period from 14 May until 18 July 2008.