The town council in Carterton has changed political colours after a meeting to discuss the election of the towns new Mayor resulted in Liberal Democrat Town Councillors walking out the meeting and resigning from the party.
In a bizarre turn of events at the full council meeting on 21st May a new Mayor was elected with Cllr Kathy Godwin being the only nomination.
Following this, nominations for the position of Deputy Mayor were then proposed with there being two candidates, Cllr Liz Wood and Cllr Natalie King. Both were Liberal Democrat councillors but after a vote which resulted in Cllr King winning, the new Mayor then announced she would now be resigning as Mayor - despite only just being elected to the post.
Councillors and member of the public at the meeting were then left in shock as three Liberal Democrat councillors all announced they would be resigning from the party and will now sit as independent councillors.
Councillors Kathy Godwin, Liz Wood and Robin Brooks all resigned over the nomination of Cllr Natalie King becoming Deputy Mayor of the Town Council. The meeting was then adjourned and a motion was passed to reconvene the meeting on Tuesday 28th May.
At this following meeting Conservative town councillor, Cllr Michele Mead, was nominated to become the Chair and Mayor of the Council for the 2024/25 year with a unanimous vote in support.
New Town Mayor, Cllr Michele Mead said, “I am delighted the Conservatives are now back in control of the Town Council ending the Lib Dem chaos we’ve seen at recent meetings. I am hoping we can now all focus on working together to improve our amazing town as this is what our residents expect of us. The Town Council has become far too toxic with a focus more on personal egos rather than on simply making things better.”