Town council has 'No Confidence' in borough leader and cabinet
Putting forward the proposal, Cllr Ian Havelock said the borough council has an ethos of “evasion and secrecy”.
He called on his fellow councillors to back the motion which they did, with six votes in favour, plus four against and two abstentions.
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Hide AdCllr Havelock cited a number of grievances about the borough council in regard to Whitby, raising concerns over the delayed restoration to the piers and difficulty in
obtaining information from the borough council.
Speaking about raising funds to repair Whitby’s piers, he said: “Where the piers are concerned we were told this balance is required and in the same breath discover that SBC had committed £4 million to demolish and redevelop the Futurist theatre site.
“As far as I’m concerned the borough council is treating Whitby with disdain.”
His views were backed by Ron Wilkey, a member of the public who had travelled from Scarborough to the Whitby Town Council meeting at Pannett Park, to deliver a passionate speech calling on the town council to back the motion and drain what he called the “swamp.”
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Hide AdSpeaking of his frustration when attending borough council meetings on the Futurist theatre, he criticised council leader Cllr Derek Bastiman, and his cabinet, labelling them "arrogant apart from a couple of exceptions."
But councillors Linda Wild and Phil Trumper said they did not believe the motion is in the best interests of Whitby.
Despite this opposition, other councillors backed the motion and it was carried.
An online petition also stating a No Confidence vote on the council’s leadership has now attracted 2,269 signatures.
How they voted:
In favour (6):
John Freeman
Terrence Jennison
Ian Havelock
Heather Coughlan
Geoffrey Wilson
Dennis Collins
Against (4):
Noreen Wilson
Rebecca Pearson
Linda Wild
Phil Trumper
Abstained (2):
Natalie Smith
Jonathan Harston
Declared an interest (2):
Steve Smith
Amanda Smith
See The Scarborough News and Whitby Gazette for more reaction.