THE former mayor of Monmouth, who stood down last month, has warned the role of the town council could be being “fundamentally eroded” after anger broke out during a meeting on Monday (11th June).

Felicity Cotton stormed out of the town council’s Community Affairs Committee meeting blaming “ridiculous” and “unacceptable” behaviour from fellow councillors.

Councillor Cotton had asked the community affairs committee for permission to speak and vote on an item about council grants for her ward, even though she was not a member of the committee.

All the councillors agreed she could – except for one, Ken Breeze, and under the rules the vote had to be unanimous.

Cllr Cotton, who has taken a close interest in the grants process over the past year, said: “I think it is a very poor situation if all our committee members and council members can’t recognise that I have a right to vote. What had happened was unacceptable”.

“I think it is really disappointing to the point of me really not wanting to partake any more of the council. If respect is not given to each other then what is the point? It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Cllr Cotton went on to speak of the increasing divided council.

“I am deeply disappointed with the increasingly personal level that political game-playing within the town council has reached.

“I have spent a good deal of time working on the funding of Open Access Play and the Citizens Advice Bureau with fellow councillors. Whilst I resigned from the Community Affairs Committee in an effort to rebalance my work load, I believe it is acceptable to request to vote on such a fundamental issue for the town.

“The refusal by one councillor to allow me to vote, undermines my role as councillor for the Drybridge Ward. However, blocking the ability of any councillor to vote, critically damages democratic process and fundamentally erodes the role of the council in Monmouth.”

When Cllr Anthea Dewhurst said she was free to speak but not to vote, Cllr Cotton replied: “I think that’s small change, quite frankly.

The Beacon reached out to Cllr Breeze for comment but he did not reply.

Cllr Cotton did not stay for the debate which lasted nearly an hour before councillors recommended to increase the council’s contribution to the Citizens Advice Bureau from £5,000 to £7,500, with plans to release further money when available.