A COUNCIL meeting descended into farce as tensions rose among members over a row to bar one from asking a question about the de-selection of several senior Labour party councillors.

Last week it was revealed that five Labour members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council face being deselected by the party ahead of next year’s election campaign.

Independent councillor Steve Kay had submitted a question to be put before all members of the council but he claims he was prevented from raising the issue at today’s (Thursday, November 20) full council meeting.

The row erupted after he was told his written question was an internal party issue and could not be discussed during the meeting.

Speaking before the meeting, he said: “People are wondering how these people are running the council when their party does not think them to be suitable candidates in next May’s elections. The people deserve an explanation from the council leader, Cllr Dunning, but he is hiding behind dubious rulings and bureaucractic mumbo jumbo.”

Despite the ruling, he made several attempts to ask his question but they were ignored by the labour members who might not be able to stand as Labour candidates next year.

The five members facing possible de-selection are:

* Member of the cabinet and executive for community safety, Cllr Steven Goldswain.

* Chairman of Cleveland Fire Authority, Cllr Brian Briggs.

* Chairman of the council’s Planning Committee, Cllr Brian Hogg.

* Member of the cabinet for corporate resources Cllr Norman Pickthall.

* The fifth councillor is serving mayor, Carole Simms.

They have not yet been de-selected, but have been told they have not been recommended to go through to the next stage of the process.

While an appeal process is available to the councillors, if rejected then they would be unable to stand as councillors for the party in next year’s local elections.

Every time he tried to raise the issue, Cllr Kay was barracked and heckled by members of the Labour group.

When another councillor, Tristran Learoyd, attempted to table a motion calling for support for the Living Streets Campaign, there was jeering from opposition councillors after Labour’s David Walsh tabled an amendment resulting in several members storming out of the meeting to shouts of: "It’s a disgrace."

The tetchy meeting ended on a sour note when Cllr Kay refused to stand when the mayor left the council chamber, while Cllr Learoyd turned his back.

When challenged to stand up, Cllr Kay refused saying: “If you had treated both Cllr Learoyd and myself better, I would, but this meeting has been a disgrace.”