Secret ballot to be used in Arun council no confidence vote

Last Wednesday’s meeting, which went on for more than four hours, became bogged down in ‘procedural wrangling’ in the words of one councillor with the debate adjourned for another week.

After forming the council’s administration after the May 2019 election, the Lib Dems now face a significant challenge to stop the Conservatives returning to power.

The  first part of the Tory motion requested a secret ballot and this was the only thing agreed at last week’s meeting, with councillors not even getting around to discussing the actual vote of no confidence.

It was passed by 26 votes to 25 with one abstention. 

The council’s monitoring officer Nick Bennett had his work cut out for him, fielding points of orders left, right and centre.

An attempt to switch the order of the motions to hear the vote of no confidence first before another on Bognor Regis regeneration was defeated.

Another hour or so was then spent on discussing if this contradicted a motion from September inviting parties to submit an interest in schemes to improve the town.

When the actual no confidence debate actually started, Conservative group leader Shaun Gunner said: “There’s been a change in the balance of power in the chamber and a change in the mood both locally and nationally.”

He felt a secret ballot would ‘protect members from finger pointing and retribution’ should the Lib Dem administration win the vote.

But James Walsh, leader of the council, said: “This evening is going to be marked down in history where we have spent three hours on procedural wrangling. This council has done itself absolutely no favours in the eyes of the public watching.”

He labelled the attempt to force a secret vote ‘cynical and totally undemocractic’.

Dr Walsh also dismissed assertions he had survived a move to remove him as Lib Dem leader in the summer as lies.

With no party having a majority the Lib Dem administration has been supported by several independent councillors and the smaller political groups.

Conservative Andy Cooper said they had seen ‘who is running the council this evening’, while fellow Tory councillor Paul Dendle went further suggesting the ‘tail has been wagging the dog for a long time’ singling out independent Hugh Coster.

Cllr Coster felt the secret ballot was ‘about hiding from the public’.