Drama at Bracknell Forest council on Wednesday night as councillors met to elect a new leader.
Conservative politicians walked out after the mayor and the council solicitor denied them the chance to speak or make points of order. The meeting's only item was the election of the leader.
Cllr Helen Purnell, already deputy leader, was the sole nominee and was chosen unopposed. She had been elected unopposed as Labour Group leader on Monday after re‑focusing council priorities to support the protection of women and girls.
The mayor, Cllr Janet Cochrane, emphasised the limited agenda, saying: "Only the business specified in the summons may be transacted at this extraordinary meeting."
As voting began, Cllr John Harrison (Con) tried a point of order, arguing the council needed to rejig committee membership after two members were suspended from the Labour Party. The solicitor ruled it was not a point of order and said it could be raised at the next full meeting as a question.
Cllr Purnell was nominated by Cllr Brown and seconded by Cllr Megan Wright. With no other nominees, she was elected unopposed and the mayor invited her to speak for five minutes - an item not on the agenda.
Cllr Barnard objected: "Madam mayor, last week we had a statement from the incoming leader, now we have have an address from the leader with absolutely no right of reply from anyone in this chamber... I think that's not particularly good." Some councillors murmured, "Wholly undemocratic - absolutely undemocratic." The mayor replied: "Okay, thank you for that. Leader, would you like to speak, please?"
Gareth Barnard led the walkout. He left the chamber with Cllr Robert McLean and Cllr John Harrison, and two members of the public - former Conservative candidate Chris Turrell and former Conservative councillor Diana Henfry.
Purnell thanked the people of Bracknell and pledged to protect vulnerable residents. After the cameras were turned off, Cllr Barnard returned and described the denial of a right to reply as "appalling".
He added: "At the last council we had a statement from the acting leader, this time an address with no right of reply."
"In 29 years I have never walked out of a council meeting but last night, the lack of a democratic opportunity to respond and hold the new leader to account was appalling. The Mayor could have allowed it but chose not to."
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
