'Missing' councillor at meeting
STUDLANDS Park town councillor Jonathan Richer attended his first council meeting for more than a year on Monday and immediately complained that minutes had reported him absent from two previous meetings.
Cllr Richer said he had not been at meetings of the council's planning committee because he had not been sent the appropriate paperwork and town mayor Cllr Mick Jeffreys agreed the reference to him being absent would be removed.
Two other councillors were missing from the meeting, former town mayor Jane Bailey, and Bob Cole who, like Cllr Richer, represented Studlands Park,have both resigned. Their actions are believed to be linked to Cllr Richer's absence.
Cllr Richer was the subject of a complaint that he had breached the council's code of conduct related to bullying, intimidation and bringing the council into disrepute.
But he was cleared following a report to Forest Heath Council's standards committee in January.
It is now understood that he has made a counter complaint about three town councillors.
Cllr Jeffreys told the meeting he was "sorry and disappointed" to have received the two resignations.
He said Mrs Bailey had been a "dedicated and conscientious mayor" who had always been motivated by a desire to make Newmarket a better place to live.
Of Mr Cole he said he had admired his dedication and valued his "wise and considered contributions" to council debates.
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Weather for Newmarket
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
