Great Aycliffe Town Councillor hands in her resignation

Lisa Conners, who represented the Woodham Ward for Great Aycliffe Town Council (GATC), handed in her resignation on Tuesday (March 17).

The independent's departure means there are now four vacancies up for grabs in Newton Aycliffe, and it will be decided whether a by-election will need to be held for Ms Conner's seat in the near future.

Lisa Conners. (Image: GATC)

A GATC spokesperson said: "I can confirm that Councillor Conners has resigned.

 "A Notice of Vacancy (via DCC Elections Dept) will be published this coming Friday.

"A by-election will only be called if ten electors come forward to request this by April 14.

"If not it would fall back to the town council to co-opt."

Currently, the council has four vacant seats, which are up for grabs.

Two have been agreed to be filled via a 'co-op', meaning an election will not be held, and a by-election to fill the seat of Jordan Gill has been scheduled for April 23.

Gill, who represented the Byerley Park, Horndale and Cobblers Hall ward as an independent, gave up his position on Thursday, February 26, just a day after he received a suspended prison sentence.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday (February 25) how the 33-year-old preyed on two victims over a five-month period, uploading images of a man in lingerie and another of a man performing a sex act to cards.

Gill previously admitted sending a letter, communication or article that conveyed an indecent or offensive message. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of sharing a photograph or video of a person in an intimate state without their consent.

Magistrates sentenced Gill to 14 weeks in prison, which was suspended for 15 months. He was ordered to pay £239 in costs and was banned from contacting one of the victims for 15 months by a restraining order.