THE new mayor and deputy mayor designates for Holsworthy Town Council were chosen on Wednesday, April 5 — but it wasn’t all plain sailing, writes Zoë Uglow.

Heated discussions were held when an unexpected second candidate was proposed for deputy mayor.

Cllr John Allen proposed current mayor Jon Hutchings as mayor designate because ‘he has done a splendid job this term with all the hospital events etc, and I think he deserves a second year’.

All went smoothly with a vote being taken and the council accepting Cllr Hutchings unanimously as the mayor designate.

Then, Cllr Allen proposed current deputy mayor Pat Smith to continue in her role, saying ‘I believe she has done a good job supporting the mayor this year and in chairing the F&GP committee and think she deserves a second term’.

Cllr Michael Stanton added: “I think it would be worth putting Cllr [Colin] Punter forward as well.”

This led to a lengthy discussion as to how the council should proceed with a vote. A show of hands was suggested but Cllr Stanton requested a written vote.

Cllr Smith said: “Any councillor will be allowed to see who voted for who at the end of the vote, each written vote must be signed and I — any councillor — has the right to challenge the result.”

With regards to Cllr Smith’s suggestion that councillors had to sign their ballot papers Cllr Hutchings said: “I don’t agree, if we have it written on paper and then each sign it, it defeats the point. We might as well have a show of hands.

“If you want a recorded written vote that’s a different matter.”

Confusion ensued as councillors discussed whether they were holding a recorded vote, a written ballet or whether it would be simpler to hold the originally proposed ‘show of hands’.

Cllr Smith asked for confirmation and town clerk Vanessa Saunders confirmed ‘we have checked it today and we don’t think the written ballot needs to be signed’.

A heated discussion was had over the accuracy of this as Cllr Smith insisted the ballot papers should be signed. She said she believed there was ‘no such thing as a secret ballot’ on the council, adding, ‘I want them recorded’.

Calling for a recorded vote is every councillor’s right.

Ms Saunders said: “If we hold a recorded vote that is completely different from a written ballot. For the recorded vote, your name will be put in the minutes of who you vote for. The written, as far as we have researched, does not need to be recorded in the minutes further than the number of votes each councillor receives.

“It is important that you all know you’re adults and are all entitled to have different opinions and both candidates will do just as well as each other in the role and who voted for who shouldn’t really matter.”

The confusion was finally resolved by mayor designate Jon Hutchings, who suggested they continue with the written ballot, with each councillor signing their name underneath their vote. These would then be kept with the town clerk until such time as they were able to clarify whether other councillors could view the result.

This was agreed to.

The vote was taken — with two councillors not in attendance — and the result saw Cllr Smith elected as deputy mayor designate with the exact voting figures not being released.