Councillor thrown out of meeting

There was high drama on the final meeting of West Berkshire Council before the May elections – with a Liberal Democrat councillor being kicked out of the executive session.

Adrian Abbs (Lib Dem, Wash Common) was arguing over motions on environmental issues being lumped together, with Steve Ardagh-Walter (Con, Thatcham, Colthrop and Crookham).

In a heated exchange, he repeatedly refused to back down resulting in council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) wielding her gavel with some force, and telling him to leave.

He again refused, prompting Mrs Doherty to order her Conservative colleagues to leave the room, to allow the Liberal Democrat leader Lee Dillion (Thatcham) to have a word.

“I’ve never had to do anything like that in my four years as leader,” said Mrs Doherty.

Leaving the meeting, Mr Abbs said he had no respect for the leader.

“It’s almost a dictatorship,” he said afterwards.