Residents of Ripon have been warned that holding a no-confidence vote in the city's mayor could cost taxpayers up to £20,000.
A parish meeting is due to be held today (Monday) after being requested by local residents amid a bitter fallout among councillors on Ripon City Council.
At the meeting, residents will be asked whether to hold a parish poll to assess their confidence in the mayor, Councillor Barbara Brodigan.
It comes amid a power struggle at the authority, following the resignation of three of the council’s four staff, between Cllr Brodigan and her supporters and a group of councillors led by former leader, Councillor Andrew Williams.
Ahead of the meeting, a letter has been sent out to local residents by supporters of Cllr Brodigan from the local branch of the Liberal Democrats.
It warns that a parish poll would cost Ripon taxpayers between £10,000 and £20,000 to run - and has no legal power.
The letter adds:
“The poll is about trying to get those councillors willing to waste that sort of money back in control of Ripon’s budget.
“It’s a political distraction the city can’t afford and a test of patience it doesn’t deserve.”
Urging residents to attend the meeting at 6pm on Monday at Holy Trinity Church to support Cllr Brodigan, the letter claims to include the “facts” behind events at the council in recent weeks, including the departure of the staff.
It adds:
“Under Mayor Brodigan, the council has already taken steps to protect the council’s next staff team.
“These are reforms Ripon has needed for years — and they’re finally happening.”
In response, Cllr Williams told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the parish poll was being called for by residents and was not connected to his political group.
He said he and the other councillors in his group would not be attending Monday’s meeting.
He added:
“It’s time, frankly, that the Liberal Democrats stopped hurling mud and abuse at people and allowed the city to actually move forward, because they have unleashed chaos at the city council and it has to come to an end — the pantomime season has to come to an end.”
A by-election will take place on November 20 for the Ure Bank ward following the resignation of Councillor Jo Bate, with the outcome likely to decide which group has the majority, and therefore control, of the city council.
In a further development, Councillor Sid Hawke, who rejoined Cllr Williams’ group after previously siding with Cllr Brodigan, says he has contacted North Yorkshire Police over the mayor’s handling of a resignation letter which, he claims she submitted without permission.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted North Yorkshire Police for comment.
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