Sheffield councillor to step down due to health reasons

Michelle Cook has stepped back from her role and will no longer be a councillor for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale. Her seat will remain vacant until the local elections in May.

Ms Cook has a long standing health condition and caring responsibilities and was advised to leave now rather than waiting until the election.

She said: “It’s not been an easy decision and it has been something I have been pondering on for some months but my health is not very good.

“I continue to need treatment and I also have caring responsibilities and the two combined just make it very difficult to continue effectively in my role.

“I could have stayed for the next few weeks but I was advised that it would be better for me to leave now. It’s with regret that I have to leave now and not complete my term but it takes time to recover from a health condition and I will be in this for the long haul.”

Ms Cook was elected for Labour in 2016 and served as a cabinet advisor and deputy whip as well as sitting on the planning committee and the Police and Crime Commissioner Panel.

“I would like to thank everybody I have worked with and particularly the Green councillors in Broomhill and Sharrow Vale. We have been a very good team and have worked really effectively together and I hope this joint working will continue.”