Brightlingsea Town Council (BTC) has begun the search for a new councillor to replace Mat Court, who has resigned.

The council has now posted an official notice stating that an election will be held if sufficient candidates come forward by February 3, otherwise a new councillor could be co-opted.

On social media, Mr Court said he intended to put himself forward as a candidate for Essex County Council, which has elections scheduled for May this year.

Having been co-opted to the council in 2021, Mr Court stood down as deputy mayor in February 2025 following an allegation that he had breached the member’s code of conduct. The investigation – by the compliance officer at Tendring District Council, who has responsibility for town and parish councillor conduct in the district – was ongoing at the time of Mr Court’s resignation.

At the last full meeting of the council, on January 15, councillor Mick Barry expressed “gratitude for the work that he (Mr Court) had done during his time on the council”.

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