MALDON District councillors yesterday (Thursday 6 August) voted to delay their crucial annual statutory meeting after a series of volatile exchanges.

The heated virtual full council meeting was chaired by council vice-chairman, Councillor Penny Channer.

Originally scheduled for 3 September, the annual statutory meeting is where council members vote on the composition of committees, as well as the chairmanship and leadership of the council.

A motion to change the date was tabled by Councillor Wendy Stamp on the grounds of potentially 'significant' decisions of joint standards committees to be held in August – meetings with the remit to examine the actions of council members.

Councillor Bob Boyce, who this week resigned from both the Conservative Party and his role as council chairman, interrupted to claim: "The motion has been tabled to humiliate me".

Councillor Stamp denied this, but as the meeting continued and other councillors took their turn to speak, Councillor Chrisy Morris began talking about the conclusions of a 'report' – not fully specified in the meeting. He was warned by Councillor Channer to stick to the subject of the motion. He refused - and a motion to silence him was voted on and rejected.

Councillor Morris then said: "The annual statutory meeting should be delayed to ensure that the wrong people on the council do not have power because they are corrupt."