Although the public is allowed to speak at the beginning of regular meetings of the council, this was an emergency meeting solely to elect a new chairman.


Coun Shirley MacDonald was elected chairman and Mayor until next May, to replace Coun Steve Webster, who resigned earlier this month, quoting 'personal vendettas' by councillors who 'did not have the good of Caistor as their main priority'.

Police were in attendance in case of any trouble from the 75 plus people in attendance and there was a threat from the new chairman that they would be called in because of the frequent interruptions from the floor, after they had been refused permission to speak.


Next May, the then council will elect a chairman for the forthcoming 12 months.


A request to suspend the council's standing orders to allow the public to speak, and also to only appoint a temporary chairman until after elections to fill the vacancies caused by the four councillors who have resigned, have taken place, were both rejected.