MALDON District Council selected a new leader at its Statutory Annual Meeting this evening (Thursday, 5 November) – Independent Councillor Wendy Stamp.

The meeting was still ongoing at the point of publication as a debate about how many seats on council committees members of each political group would be allocated. This is proving a problematic issue to resolve, due to the formation of the Democratic Alliance group, made up of four Conservative councillors, two days ago.

Cllr Stamp, leader of the Independent group at the authority, replaces Conservative Councillor Elaine Bamford in the role, which she took on after the resignation from the leadership role of Tory Councillor Adrian Fluker in August.

As Cllr Stamp is the leader of the largest political group on the council, the vote was to ratify her in the position, even though Cllr Bamford had been in the role.

The vote for Cllr Stamp was split along party lines, with 15 Independents voting for, 13 Tories against and one Conservative abstention.

Independent Councillor Stephen Nunn was the only nomination for Deputy Leader of the council, but Conservative members asked for a recorded vote. The voting pattern duplicated that for Cllr Stamp as leader.

Selection of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the council

The meeting had first voted in Independent Councillor Mark Heard as Council Chairman for the rest of the civic year – again, until May, 2021. The vote cast was recorded as 15 for and 13 against, plus one abstention.

The other nomination for the role was Conservative Councillor Penny Channer, who as Vice-Chairman had taken over the role of Council Chairman after the previous Chairman, Conservative Councillor Bob Boyce, resigned from the position in August. Cllr Channer thanked all members for their support during her time in the role.

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The 'chains of office' for the Council Chairman will not be handed over until the current pandemic situation allows.

Cllr Heard said: "I hope that despite recent differences we can all move forward to work together."

Independent Councillor Carlie Mayes was voted in as Vice Chairman of the council, with no alternative candidate nominated. Despite this, Conservative councillors in the meeting called for a recorded vote, with 15 for, 11 against and three abstentions. All the votes against – and abstentions – were from Conservative councillors.

The political make-up of the council had shifted in the months since August in the fallout surrounding upheld complaints against former Council Leader, Tory Councillor Adrian Fluker. There are now 15 members in the Independent group and a total of 15 Conservative councillors, divided between 10 in the main Tory group at the authority, four in a newly-formed Democratic Alliance group and one non-aligned. There is also one vacancy on the council. One Tory member of the Democratic Alliance group did not attend the meeting due to sickness – Councillor Richard Dewick.