Somerset County Council has approved a six-month leave of absence for Councillor Suria Aujla, who represents the Huntspill division as one of its two Conservative councillors. Ms Aujla, who was elected in May 2022, also serves on Bridgwater Town Council for the Dunwear ward.
The leave request, submitted on health grounds via Conservative group leader Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, was authorized by council chief executive Duncan Sharkey. As a result, Ms Aujla will be excused from attending all council meetings, whether in person or virtually, until January 2026.
Huntspill division encompasses several expanding villages between Bridgwater and Highbridge, including Puriton and Woolavington, as well as the prominent Gravity Enterprise Zone, currently home to Agratas’ £4 billion gigafactory development.
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During her tenure, Ms Aujla has been an active member of the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee, the Officer Appeals Committee, and participates in two local community networks (LCNs): Avalon and Poldens, which includes town and parish councils east of Bridgwater, and the Burnham LCN. Additionally, she represents the council on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority and contributes to the Hinkley Point C Monitoring Group, ensuring oversight of EDF Energy’s power station projects.
In her absence, fellow Huntspill councillor Mark Healey, a Puriton resident and shadow portfolio holder for public health, climate change, and environment, will manage constituency casework.
Alyn Jones, the council’s Monitoring Officer, confirmed that all relevant parties were consulted and no objections to the leave request were raised.