Clenchwarton community centre meeting ends abruptly after dispute over chairman

A community project meeting was abruptly closed yesterday evening after claims the chairman should not be allowed to preside over it.

Clenchwarton Parish Council 's Community Centre Project Committee meeting had lasted no more than 15 minutes when clerk Jenny Rowe closed the meeting on Zoom.

It followed former chairman and councillor Steve Bearshaw suggesting Dick Moate should not have been allowed to chair the meeting as he has resigned and "is no longer a councillor".

Mr Bearshaw, who was late into the meeting, said: "Councillor Moate you have resigned, why are you chairing this meeting? We have got an issue to sort out first, someone muted me."

In response, Mr Moate said his resignation has not been accepted yet and councillors had been sent an email regarding the situation.

Mr Bearshaw persisting in asking why someone was chairing the meeting even though they are not a councillor, which was disputed by others in attendance.

Before closing the meeting to the public, the clerk said: "With respect, this is not the time or place for it I will be closing the meeting. I am not having this."

The first 10 minutes of the meeting before the disorder had seen the council agree to the proposal to hold a village consultation on the Community Centre Project.

Mr Moate said the consultation will kickstart the process and "get the conversation started" although some concerns were expressed over the timescale before the meeting descended into chaos.

Last night's dispute follows councillor Nigel Collison previously telling the Lynn News he is fed up of the bickering and cliques in Clenchwarton Parish Council.

Mr Bearshaw, who was previously ousted as chair, agreed with this view and claims a wrangle over a new pavilion at the playing field is central to the problems.