The leader of South Oxfordshire District Council has announced she will be stepping down after serving as a councillor for 23 years.

Councillor Sue Copper announced at a council meeting on Thursday that she will be stepping down as leader of the council at next week’s full council meeting.

Councillor Cooper said: “I have been proud to serve South Oxfordshire District Council and its residents as its Leader since May 2019, having been a councillor for over 23 years. It has been a real honour to establish a new partnership Cabinet and I wanted to thank you all personally for your support.

“We can be rightly proud of our many achievements to date, particularly our fantastic new corporate plan, and our clear and visible leadership in the areas of climate change and ecological recovery. I have thought long and hard about my decision and I believe that now is the time for a new leader to drive forward delivery for our residents.

“It has been my pleasure to lead a diverse team of committed members and officers and I look forward to supporting my successor as leader and will serve them in any capacity requested of me, as we continue to do the very best we can for the communities we serve here in South Oxfordshire.”

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