Four independent Maryport town councillors will boycott tonight’s mayor making ceremony.
The quartet believe that the town council is no longer democratic – and this was illustrated when the AGM had to be suspended after 10 minutes on May 11.
The new mayor, John Newton, was due to be elected. However, he did not attend which meant the meeting could not continue.
A new AGM has been arranged for today, Tuesday, May 26, but the council’s independent councillors have written a joint letter to the clerks to tell them they will not be attending.
The letter is signed by Scott Merrin, Lee Bell, John Cuthell and John Mitchell.
They said they had raised concerns over similar issues over the last three years and the meeting on May 12 was not an isolated incident.
In the letter, they said: “The signatories of this letter find themselves in an untenable position and are unable to support any further decisions made at the rearranged meeting on Tuesday May 26. As a result, we will not be in attendance.
“We would be grateful if this statement could be formally tabled alongside our apologies, so that fellow councillors are fully aware of both our decision and our position.
“It is deeply concerning that politics, informal decision-making, and influence appears to be playing a significant role in the running of the council.
“This undermines the openness and non-political fairness that should underpin the operation of a town council.
“Until the council returns to being a fully open and democratic organisation, divisions and politically motivated behaviours are likely to persist, rather than all councillors working collaboratively in the best interests of the residents we represent.
“Whilst this letter is submitted without prejudice towards the newly elected mayor, it is concerning that some councillors have supported the election of an individual with only 14 per cent attendance at meetings, and who did not attend their own election or formally sign their acceptance of office at the time.”
