THERE was turmoil at a Maldon District Council meeting yesterday (Thursday, 13 August) when it was abandoned during a row between councillors over whether some of the debate on plans for a nuclear power station at Bradwell should be held in public or private.

The virtual meeting had three major planning applications on the agenda – with a planned exclusion of the public and press after the first while councillors heard 'exempt information' on the two applications listed last on the agenda – including the power station plan.

The other agenda item concerned was on plans for development at land north and west of Knowles Farm in Wycke Hill, Maldon.

The exclusion of the public and press is a common feature of council meetings to allow for members to hear some legal, confidential or other information exempt from public discussion under The Local Government Act 1972.

However, the meeting was meant to resume after the private debate so that the two planning applications concerned could be debated and decided by councillors with the public and press watching. Instead, the whole meeting was adjourned after the first application – a development of 90 new homes at Burnham-on-Crouch – had been agreed.

Independent Councillor Chrisy Morris then objected to the exclusion of the public and press. He argued that the entire discussion of the Bradwell plans should be heard in public and demanded a committee vote on whether to continue in private or not.

Chair of the meeting, Deputy Leader and Conservative Councillor Maddie Thompson, did not agree and the discussion became heated before public and press access to the live stream was cut off. The meeting was not resumed later as planned.

A spokesperson for Maldon District Council said: ""Due to the continued interruptions during the meeting, the Deputy Leader decided that the best option was to call a halt to the meeting. Discussions are currently taking place as to when this meeting can be reconvened."

In a statement after the meeting, Cllr Morris said: "The councillors quite overwhelmingly refused these applications and we asked the officers to make our objections watertight if the applicants were to appeal. It appears that they instead decided to seek legal advice that would make our objections seem unreasonable at appeal in an attempt to change our minds - my personal opinion is this is bullying.

"I am against hearing this advice in private as if an attempt to bully us is made - the public have a right to know. I believe that once there was a possibility that this bullying attempt was going to be in the public domain, they used it to shut the meeting.

"I am here to represent the wishes of the people and will not be bullied. The public has a right to know."