Fresh attempt to reject Saltney town mayor

Oct 24 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

THE bitter wrangling at Saltney town council continued at the authority’s latest meeting.

Town mayor Klaus Armstrong-Braun had been subject to motions of both no confidence and censure in previous meetings and another attempt has been made to unseat the mayor.

Cllr Derrick Beddow said: “In view of the chairman’s wilful and persistent action in over-ruling the council, I request the deputy mayor take the chair.”

Cllr Armstrong-Braun responded: “You don’t have no power.”

A tense exchange with Cllr Terry Walker followed after he interjected: “On your bike, of course we can.”

Cllr Armstrong-Braun insisted: “It’s not happening anyway” to which Cllr Walker answered: “Read your own rule book.”

“We know the rule book,” came the mayor’s reply.

“No you don’t,” countered Cllr Walker.

Councillors failed in an attempt to invoke a standing order regarding disorderly conduct which states that a member of the town council may not “wilfully obstruct business” or “behave improperly or in such a manner that brings the council into disrepute”.

The mayor disputed the standing order’s power to overule him, saying: “You can’t remove the chair on that. That’s not correct at all.”

After the meeting, Cllr Walker said: “You’re always going to have disagreements but you’ve got to have some leadership.”