Holbeach Parish Council to elect fifth chairman in four years after latest resignation

Holbeach Parish Council is now going to have to elect its fifth chairman in four years.

Incumbent Clive Turner had tendered his resignation prior to last night’s meeting when a vote of no confidence in him was on the agenda.

The meeting, in the Methodist Church Hall, was conducted by vice-chairman Tim Wiltshire and there was no vote on electing a councillor to replace Mr Turner as this was not an agenda item.

Coun Isobel Hutchinson questioned why two members decided to call a vote of no confidence and asked for the reasons to be made public.

Coun Rick Stevens replied: “I didn’t like how he was dealing with things outside the council. It was council business but he was doing it off his own back.”

Coun Peter Savory stated that Mr Turner had little experience as a councillor before taking over the chairman’s role.

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He said: “Experience goes a long way. The council voted in someone with very little experience of council to become chairman. Surely part of that is the council’s fault and not his fault?”

Coun Hutchinson responded: “I would suggest so.”

Mr Turner was elected chairman in May and had high hopes of delivering an improvement plan for the town.

He had taken over the reins from Coun Sophie Hutchinson, who had been in the hot seat for three months after her predecessor Stephen Johnson left in February 2023.

Mr Johnson was elected as chairman in 2021.

Graham Rudkin, who had also represented the town on South Holland District Council until May, had held the chairman’s role between 2020 and 2021. He had resigned from the parish council along with his wife Carol, Laurence Marchant and Dawn Howarth in 2021 after becoming frustrated with the way the authority was run.

The council has a total of 18 seats available and there are now thought to be eight vacancies.

Former member Mark Murfet resigned in October citing ‘unwarranted and unacceptable language and behaviour’ within his resignation statement. He also called for an effective arbitration system which holds people to account.

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