TENDRING Council’s chairman Roy Smith looks set to face a vote of no confidence in the New Year.

Neil Stock, leader of the authority’s Conservative group, says Mr Smith’s mid-term defection to the administration and his confused voting at council meetings has made his position untenable.

Mr Smith, and fellow district councillor Kevin Watson, quit the Community Representatives Party and this week announced they are joining Tendring First.

At the last full council meeting, Mr Smith mistakingly used his casting vote against the administration before being prompted to rectify the error.

Mr Stock said: “I personally think he’ll have to stand down as chairman.

“The chairman’s voting at the last couple of meetings reflects badly on the council.

“The Conservatives were happy to get Roy in as in independent chairman because the Community Reps have prided themselves on being above party politics.

“It is unprecedented for the chairman of the council to do this - he should have waited until the end of his term.

“It begs the question, should he face a vote of no confidence?”

Leader David Lines said a vote of no confidence would be another example of the playground bullyboy tactics that Mr Stock and his Conservative group are using.

“It would equally be a vote of no confidence in Neil Stock because he voted for Roy Smith to be chairman,” he added.

Mr Smith said councillors are entitled to call for a vote of no confidence.

The veteran councillor explained the decision to join Tendring First.

He said: “We (Mr Smith and Mr Watson) have been consistent and enthusiastic supporters of the refreshingly open and ambitious approach taken by the administrative group and their ability to deliver so many different things all across our communities, often in a short space of time.”

Mr Watson added they were very disillusioned with the negative and frequently destructive nature of several opposition members on the council, especially from the Community Reps.

Mr Lines welcomed the two councillors.

“Roy and Kevin have a solid record of service to their communities in Jaywick and this is reflected by the strong level of votes that they received at the last elections”, he said.

“Having shown unflinching support for the all-embracing aims and all-inclusive approach of the administration for the last 18 months, I am delighted to welcome them as the latest recruits to the administration and to my own group, Tendring First.”