AN investigation has been launched by watchdogs after the stormy council meeting which saw St Annes Pool axed.
Three Fylde councillors – Coun Liz Oades, leader of the opposition in Fylde, former council leader Paul Hayhurst and Singleton councillor Coun Maxine Chew – are being investigated by the Standards Board for England following complaints over the key d
ebate at Fylde Rugby Club in March.
It comes as leaders of all the political groups in Fylde and chief executive Phil Woodward were sent letters after the meeting was slammed by a town hall scrutiny committee as an "extreme disappointment".
The committee, made up of councillors and members of the public, highlighted a string of concerns including bad organisation of the meeting, a lack of control of the public and the general conduct of councillors.
Outraged protesters shouted down ruling Tory councillors throughout the stormy five-hour budget meeting.
Former Fylde mayor Coun John Preswich suspended the meeting for 10 minutes as tempers flared.
Conservative Coun Brenda Ackers, who sits on the Fylde standards board, believes the hostile atmosphere stifled debate.
She said: "It was quite right that the mayor chose to suspend the meeting and one or two people were ejected.
"I myself had a couple of things to say but I certainly wasn't going to stand with all the people yelling and shouting.
"It would deter anybody for speaking in support of the budget measures. People who were opposed to the measures would be quite comfortable."
Police were placed on standby as Fylde Council voted to axe the pool, which is due to close later this month.
Independent Coun Kevin Eastham , who also sits on the Fylde board, said: "The board was unanimously concerned about how the meeting was run.
"These are not meetings where one should be having in that way. A number of members were also speaking to the crowds instead of addressing the issues."
A spokesman for the Standards Board, which monitors the behaviour of councillors across England, confirmed the investigations had been launched.
Complaints filed since May 8 will now be sent to Fylde Council instead of the national body. In the most serious cases councillors can be suspended.
The full article contains 368 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
