"No Confidence" Vote In Arun District Council Fails

Wednesday, 18 November 2020 20:54

By Karen Dunn, Local Democracy Reporter

A vote of no confidence in the leadership at Arun District Council has been lost.

At a meeting of the full council this evening (November 18), a secret ballot was held, which could have led to leader Dr James Walsh (LibDem) and his deputy Francis Oppler (LibDem) being called on to resign.

The motion was tabled by Conservative leader Shaun Gunner — and the vote could not have been closer.

Twenty-six councillors voted in favour, 26 against and there was one abstention.

The casting vote went to chairman Jim Brooks (Independent) who voted against the motion.

The public has been witness to an often combative atmosphere among councillors since the Tories lost control of the council in May 2019, after 45 years in charge.

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