This historic result for Chichester Labour means that, at long last, voters of all political colours are represented on the council. With the Tories losing overall control, there is now an opportunity for other parties to properly scrutinise decisions taken by council and indeed to play a big part in the decision-making process.

It is incumbent on all parties to be committed to open and constructive dialogue, dispense with the old adversarial politics of the past and embrace this new era of consensus politics. Chichester Labour commits to working with others in such a manner, to serve the needs of the many in our communities rather than the interests of the few. We look forward to working with colleagues from other parties to implement progressive change and environmentally friendly policies that truly benefit as many people in the district as possible.