Bid to dethrone Cornwall Council leader

9:51am Friday 21st September 2012 in News

Angry councillors at Cornwall Council have stepped up efforts to dethrone its leader, Alec Robertson.

A source inside the council says that disgruntled councillors have already obtained the 41 signatures needed to hold a vote of no confidence at an extraordinary meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for October 16 at 10am. It will be open to the public and the press.

A simple majority will see Mr Robertson lose his position. Early rumours suggest that at least 14 of his fellow Conservative members will vote for him to go.

If the no confidence motion is carried, Mr Robertson will automatically lose his post, with a new leader having to be voted into the top post by the end of the day. 

It is still unclear who is the driving force behind the move, with no stalking horse candidates publically putting their names forward to take his place.

The source, who did not want to be named, said that the issue was the direction of the council over the past 18 months, and Mr Robertson's leadership style.

A key issue is understood to be the cabinet's drive to privatise a raft of council services, against the will of the majority of councillors.

 

Comments(7)

Gill Zella Martin says...
10:43am Fri 21 Sep 12

Perhaps he should apply for a job where the need for democracy is not imperative.

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DCI Jen says...
11:06am Fri 21 Sep 12

What did he expect, he only has himself to blame.

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falmouthborn says...
1:48pm Fri 21 Sep 12

It was obvious this should had happened before. Elections next may. might have something to do with it

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Gill Zella Martin says...
2:38pm Fri 21 Sep 12

I know in the past I have stated that a vote of no confidence in the leadership would be good, I do not however believe it is right to do this now as it is in my opinion clearly a political move only at this present time and therefore unjust. I am not vindictive by nature and feel it is not right to remove someone for the wrong reasons.

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GrahamHarris says...
3:57pm Fri 21 Sep 12

If Robertson had any gumption about him, he'd just step down from his position to save any further embarrassment!

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Gill Zella Martin says...
5:15pm Fri 21 Sep 12

Hypothetically, If a new cabinet were to be elected by a new leader or even if a new leader chose to keep the remaining cabinet, I do not think this will alter voting matters, as the system will still remain the same, ie cabinet as opposed to committee.

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road_hogg says...
6:50pm Wed 26 Sep 12

The thing is, even if he is removed as leader, he's still a councillor - only the people in his electorate ward can choose not to vote him in next time, but in their eyes he may be doing wonders as a councillor.

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