Councillor says sorry for voting twice in meeting
A Sherburn councillor has been suspended from meetings after voting twice in a debate.
An investigation has been instigated by Ryedale Council Liberal member, Cllr John Clarke, who will urge fellow members to censure former council chairman, Cllr John Raper at tonight’s meeting of the authority.
In his motion, Cllr Clarke will ask the council to “deeply regret the events that unfolded at the meeting on December 8”.
He added: “It is of fundamental importance to our political process that members are able to cast their votes freely and fairly.
“Cllr Raper’s decision to fraudulently cast a vote on behalf of another member was an affront to democracy and the rule of law.”
He will press the council to refer the matter to the policee.
Cllr Raper told The Mercury that he “thoroughly regretted” the voting incident which happened when, in addition to casting his own vote, he allegedly voted again on an electronic device which was not being used by a neighbouring councillor not present at the time of the vote.
The issue had gone before Ryedale Council’s standards committee and a peer group review which, as a result, said Cllr Raper, he had been suspended from attending any committee meetings for six months, but was still able to attend full council meetings.