Council in chaos after night of party bickering

Members of Rother District Council were unable to decide upon the composition of the new committee structure, effectively leaving the council in limbo.

Powers have been delegated to chief executive Derek Stevens to make the decision.

Insults flew as large parts of the council effectively ceased to exist.

Following the creation of a single scrutiny committee, party membership of the panels had to be adjusted.

This process was complicated by the switch of councillors Keith and Helen Bridger to the Association of Independents from Labour, leaving Cllr Sam Souster effectively without a party but sitting as a Labour member.

The make-up of seats suggested did not accord with the strict political balance, giving the Independents two extra places at the expense of the Conservative majority.

A nem con vote of the council was therefore needed.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Sue Prochak rejected this saying she felt the decision to give Cllr Souster a seat, "had already been made" and she demanded "more proportional representation."

She was supported by her fellow Lib Dem councillors.

Their decision was greeted by shouts of, "shameful" from the Conservative benches.

Any change could jeopardise the two committee seats of the Independents.

The leaders of all parties were called together during a brief recess to try to find a solution.

Council then voted to allow Mr Stevens to make the final decision rather than carry on the meeting with little prospect of reaching agreement or call another meeting at the cost of the taxpayer.

Until the chief executive makes his choice the council's committees, as council and Conservative leader Graham Gubby reminded members, "don't exist."

He said: "Until that decision is taken the council cannot function because there will be no committees to sit."

Cllr Prochak said: "We are under no obligation to give councillor Souster a seat. I think he is good enough and strong enough to contribute to this council (in other ways)."

Mr Stevens told members Cllr Souster was entitled to one or two committee seats and it was for council to decide the figure.

Cllr Prochak added: "I was ready to move he should have two seats but I was told beforehand it was already decided which committee he should serve on."

Conservative councillor Keith Glazier said: "I can't understand where the liberals are coming from on this.

"The leader has gone out of his way to make sure everyone is selected and represented on this council."

Cllr Souster said he would "step back" if his appointment caused problems. He said: "I will work on any working group this council want me on."

However the majority of councillors would support the proposed appointment.

Following the meeting, Cllr Souster said: "I could not believe it when Cllr Prochak spoke out against me being on the audit committee.

"What she was effectively saying was that I shouldn't have any seat on any committee and to go back to Rye and be a good little constituency councillor.

"I joined this council to represent the people of Rye - that is why I am here.

"In all my years on Rother, this is the biggest mess we have found ourselves in. I am in limbo and the council effectively does not exist at this moment in time, as there are no committees.

"The Lib Dems have dug themselves a hole."

Rother secretary Trevor Elliott told councillors a decision would need to be made before agendas are sent out for the next planning meeting on November 9. He added the chief executive would inform them of his decision in writing.