A PARISH council which has been thrown into turmoil because its members are refusing to sign up to a new code of conduct has seen its first resignations.

Couns Les Kirby and John Yates quit Aiskew Parish Council with effect from the latest meeting on Wednesday in protest at the code, involving a register of members' interests, introduced by the Government.

Coun Kirby said he had been pondering whether he could continue to combine his parish council work with his business commitments and introduction of the code of conduct had finally swayed his decision.

Coun Yates said: "Even at this late stage I have looked again and am not happy about signing something I cannot go along with."

Town and parish councillors are expected to adopt the anti-sleaze code by May 5 and members face disqualification if, after two months, they have not signed a declaration saying they will abide by it.

The seven councillors representing Aiskew and Leeming Bar stress that they have no problems with the code itself, but claim the introduction of a publicly available register of interests is heavy-handed and an invasion of privacy because they claim no allowances, their powers are limited and the amounts of public money they handle are small.

Couns Kirby and Yates are the first of six councillors due to resign in stages over the coming weeks in an attempt to ensure that normal parish business can continue until replacements are found. The seventh has decided to wait until he is forced out by being declared ineligible to serve in July because he has not signed up.

The parish council has only until its meeting in June to find enough new candidates willing to stand for election or co-option and prepared to sign up to the code. A quorum of three members is needed to enable a meeting to take place.

The code of conduct, and the stance taken by the parish, was being considered yesterday by the standards committee of Hambleton District Council