A COUNCILLOR who caused havoc in Stockton town hall has been thrown off the authority's planning committee.

Coun John Fletcher's own Liberal Democrat group acted in a bid to head off any further trouble over his outburst on a planning decision.

The group's deputy chairman, Coun Jeremy Atkinson, hoped this would be the end of the affair.

Coun Fletcher said he accepted the group's decision and the reasons for it.

The Liberal group decided:

l to suspend Coun Fletcher from the planning committee with immediate effect;

l not to nominate him for election to the planning committee at the annual meeting;

l to consider Coun Fletcher's position as a member of the standards committee.

Details were sent to council leader, Coun Bob Gibson, the mayor, Coun Pete Andrew, chief executive Mr George Garlick, planning committee chairman Coun Mick Stoker and vice-chairman, Coun Dick Cains.

The move was largely in response to a complaint from Coun Gibson that he had not been informed by Coun Fletcher of what happened in the council chamber on February 16.

Coun Fletcher - who represents Egglescliffe - hurled agenda papers around, verbally threatened a legal officer and refused to leave the chamber when asked to do so by Coun Cains.

He also said he would bring in the ombudsman over the committee's decision to approve a scheme for a restaurant on the edge of Yarm.

The plan had already been rejected over parking worries but was brought back to committee after a complaint by the applicant.

The applicant felt Coun Fletcher should not have taken part in the debate as he had earlier declared non-pecuniary interest, thinking friends owned land next to the site.

This turned out not to be the case and so the declaration was withdrawn.

On February 16, however, Coun Fletcher did leave the room and the same scheme was approved in his absence, sparking an explosion of anger.

Within days, Coun Fletcher had sent written apologies to all planning committee members and said he would not be contacting the ombudsman.

Later, he apologised to the committee in person.

Coun Atkinson, also an Egglescliffe ward member, said: "We wanted to save any further difficulties which might occur on the planning committee.

"We appreciate why, in view of the seriousness of the incident for which John Fletcher is truly sorry, the leader might have felt he should have been informed.

"As far as we are concerned this is the end of the affair.

"We have been very concerned about the shock to officers and the committee members. John Fletcher was acting out of character but in view of the seriousness we can't just leave it that.

"It would be difficult for the officers, committee chairman and Coun Fletcher himself to forget it."

The move leaves Egglescliffe with no representation on the planning committee as Coun Atkinson is not a member.

But Coun Fletcher pledged he would still make representations about planning issues and when possible would ask to address the committee on residents' behalf