NEWS RELEASE from the Liberal Democrats on Harlow District Council

STATEMENT: ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING, 15 MAY 2003

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Robins was last night elected as Chair of Harlow Council.

The election of a Chair of Council was required by law to take place at the start of the meeting, to enable the discussion of the motion to set up an inquiry into void postal votes. If a Chair of Council had not been elected, the whole meeting - including the postal ballot motion - would have had to be adjourned.

The view of the Liberal Democrat Group was that it was important to discuss the postal ballot motion, and that a Chair of Council would therefore have to be elected first.

No parties have yet agreed to form an administration to run Harlow Council. The position of Chair of Council would be part of any negotiations between the parties. The Liberal Democrats therefore suggested the election of a Chair of Council who would resign the post when an administration was formed.

The Conservative Group failed to support this proposal, and instead nominated their own permanent candidate for Chair of Council, Cllr Patrick McClarnon. Liberal Democrats therefore nominated their own candidate, Cllr Chris Robins, who was elected with the support of the Labour Group.

Liberal Democrat Group leader Cllr Lorna Spenceley said:

"Until a full agreement is reached on the administration of the Council, it is the view of our Group that nothing should be done that prejudges the outcome of any negotiations.

"The election of a Conservative Chair of Council for the whole year would have done just that, which was why we could not support it.

"As far as we are concerned, we are still at the negotiating table, and all posts, including that of Chair of Council for the remainder of this year, would be part of any negotiations."

The remainder of the business of the Annual Council meeting has been adjourned to Tuesday 27 May.

ENDS