Tories set to lose committee seats after resignations

North Northamptonshire Council, based at the Corby Cube, has recommended change to the political make-up of its committees

The Conservatives look like they will lose seats on council committee panels following resignations from the party.

Last week, Cedwien Brown and Joseph Smyth stood down from the party to become Independent members of North Northamptonshire Council.

It followed a row over a proposed temporary traveller stopping site in Rothwell.

Changes to the make-up of two committees have now been recommended to the authority.

'Embarrassing'

The two councillors, along with fellow Independent Jim Hakewill, took issue with the Conservative-run council's decision to include in its budget £1.3m for a temporary traveller stopping site next to junction three of the A14.

They announced their resignation on 26 February, saying they found it "embarrassing" to represent the Conservative Party, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mike Tebbutt, who represented the Desborough ward for the Conservatives, died in January, with a by-election to be held in April.

This along with the resignations has reduced the number of Conservatives to 53 seats out of 78 on the council.

The council has recommended that to "maintain political balance", the Conservatives give a seat to Labour on the democracy & standards committee.

A proposal to reduce the Conservative membership on the planning committee (north) by one, with the Labour Group being awarded the vacant seat, has also been put forward.

The three Rothwell Independents are not entitled to a seat unless a unanimous decision is made by the council to allocate one to them.

The report will go to full council on Thursday.