INDEPENDENT Councillor Wendy Stamp is to continue as Leader of Maldon District Council (MDC), it was agreed today (Thursday, 20 May).

The decision was made at the authority's Statutory Annual Meeting at Maldon Stadium, Maldon & Tiptree Football Club, at Park Drive, Maldon, this morning. The meeting was the first face-to-face meeting of the council since the start of the pandemic and the first meeting since the local elections of Thursday, 6 May.

Deputy Leader will be Independent Councillor Stephen Nunn, as before, with Chairman, Independent Councillor Mark Heard, also continuing in his role and Vice Chairman, Independent Councillor Carlie Mayes, carrying on in her role, too.

Three motions supported by two Conservative councillors - who both belong to the Democratic Alliance Group on the council - regarded questions to the leader.

Councillor Michael Helm, seconded by Councillor Adrian Fluker, proposed that questioning of the leader should be strengthened at meetings, with less restrictions on time, a demand that the leader should not be able to defer questions to officers - for example, on technical matters - a demand for written replies from the leader where they could not answer and a regular spot for questions to the leader at meetings.

Councillor Adrian Fluker said: "The political administration of Maldon District Council does not have an overall majority and so this would be in the best interests of residents, businesses and customers."

However, Independent Councillor Richard Siddall said: "Councillor Helm has just told us this is the first motion he has put forward to council in 10 years. If it is needed now, why didn't he propose it during the previous administration?"

The three motions were all rejected in a recorded vote.

Chairs of the council's committees were also settled upon at the meeting and are as follows:

-Performance, Governance and Audit Committee: Independent Councillor Jeanette Stilts

-Strategy and Resources Committee: Independent Councillor Richard Siddall

-Licensing Committee: Independent Councillor Richard Siddall

-Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Independent Councillor Vanessa Bell

-Joint Standards Committee: Independent Councillor Mark Bassenger

-Investigation and Disciplinary Committee: Conservative Councillor Penny Channer

-District Planning Committee: Independent Councillor Mark Heard

-Central Area Planning Committee: Independent Councillor Michael Edwards

-North Western Area Planning Committee: Conservative Councillor Maddie Thompson

-South Eastern Area Planning Committee: Independent Councillor Vanessa Bell.