Surrey councillor resigns, saying she 'needs to focus on her expanding family'

Olivia Rybinski, a Conservative councillor for the Ashford Town wards, has said that she needs “to focus on [her] expanding family” after recently announcing she is to have a third child.

“Over 10 years of service to local residents, leading the campaign for better travel for residents and helping the most vulnerable in our community, the time has come to resign,” Ms Rybinski said in a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

The cybersecurity consultant said she moved out of the borough after a “change of family circumstances” and now needs “to focus on [her] expanding family”.

She said the lack of any maternity leave for councillors, left her with “no choice but to resign”.

John Boughtflower, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Olivia will be hugely missed by the residents she was elected to represent. Her commitment to them was second to none.

“She was often seen around the ward talking with people and taking an active role in supporting her community, such as the regeneration of Fordbridge Park and the children’s play area on Woodthorpe Road.

“It was her care and compassion for others, particularly vulnerable residents, that made her an outstanding councillor.”

Following Nigel Farage’s success in last week’s local elections, the Conservative councillor’s departure will likely be music to Reform’s ears.

The chairman of Spelthorne’s Reform Party was already calling for a by-election before Ms Rybinski had even left office.

A letter, touted by Reform UK, accused an unnamed councillor as “abandoning Ashford” and moving to Cornwall.

The letter accused the Conservatives of not forcing the councillor to resign and claimed they were still receiving “generous expenses” from the taxpayers’ purse.

Under the rules, councillors are allowed to live outside the borough but must attend at least one full council meeting every six months.

These members are still entitled to their allowance to carry out their role despite being outside the borough.

Ms Rybinski has attended recent council meetings and said she has returned to Spelthorne at her own expense.

She said: “We still own a property in Ashford. I have been open and asked advice from the council regarding my relocation which I had confirmed was legal.”

Written by Reform’s Spelthorne branch’s chairman, Rory O’Brien, the letter claims the Conservative Party is “subverting democracy”.

He argues the Conservatives have prevented and delayed holding a by-election after Ms Rybinski moved out.

The former Conservative councillor Ms Rybinski slammed the letter as “misleading” and said many residents have “reached out and offered support”.

Spelthorne council has announced a casual vacancy in Ashford Town and said if two residents in the borough write in to ask the position is filled a by-election will take place.