Conservatives continue to lose grip on NNDC as their committee chairs are ousted

NNDC leader Tom FitzPatrick is warning residents of con artists. Pic: Norfolk Conservatives. (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)

At the NNDC's full council meeting on Tuesday, every Conservative councillor who held a seat as either Chairman or Vice Chair were voted out and replaced by their Independent or Liberal Democrat counterparts.

Although leader of the Conservative Party Tom FitzPatrick remains leader of the council, he does so despite no longer holding a party majority following eight defections this year.

The combination will make it increasingly more difficult for the Conservative party to pass motions through full council, as well as implementing policies through the committee structure.

Georgie Perry-Warnes began the watershed in June, followed by Nigel Pearce in September, with John Rest, Angie Fitch-Tillett, Nick Coppack, Doug Smith, Annie Green and Simon Hestor following suit in during October.

Mr FitzPatrick said: 'Changes to committee membership and their Chairmen and Vice-Chairman are a normal part of the life of any Council. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who are now standing down as Chairmen and Vice Chairmen, for all their work in the past and also to congratulate those who have been newly elected to these posts and wish them all the very best in carrying out their work in the coming months. As the end of 2017 approaches, I look forward to North Norfolk District Council continuing to work effectively and innovatively for the benefit of our whole community throughout 2018.'

The motion to overhaul the committees to better reflect the parties in the council was put forward at November's full council meeting by leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sarah Butikofer.

She said: 'For local residents this means that their voices can now be heard in the Council Chamber.

'We have been working tirelessly to find a way to work with others within the Council for the benefit of local residents. By working together we can achieve so much more.

'At a local level politics is for election time only, the rest of the time we should be working together for our communities, and now we can get those communities voices heard.'

The opposition party added: 'The changes were immediate meaning that the Conservatives now have to work with us rather than against us. These changes will result in greater and closer scrutiny and review of policies in order to be able to deliver better value and more effective services.'

Leader of the Independent Party Nick Coppack added: 'I congratulate and thank all the former chairs for all their hard work, and congratulate the new chairs and vice chairs.

'We look forward to 2018 and having the opportunity for both our experienced and newer faces to begin work for our constituents.'

Full list of current and former chairs:

Elected Chairs and Vice Chairs at Full Council on Tuesday 19 December 2017:

Development Committee

Cllr. Angie Fitch-Tillett (Ind) – Chair

Cllr. Vivienne Uprichard (Lib Dem) – Vice Chair

Licensing and Appeals Committee

Cllr. Simon Hester (Ind) – Chair

Cllr. Pierre Butikofer (Lib Dem) – Vice Chair

Constitution Working Party

Cllr. Virginia Gay (Lib Dem) – Chair

Cllr. Ann Moore (Lib Dem) – Vice Chair

Overview and Scrutiny

Cllr. Karen Ward (Lib Dem) – Chair – remains unchanged

Cllr. Simon Hester (Ind) – Vice Chair

Standards Committee

Cllr. Peter Moore (Lib Dem) – Chair

Cllr. Brian Hannah (Lib Dem) – Vice Chair

Governance, Risk and Audit Committee

Cllr. John Rest (Ind) – Chair

Cllr. David Young (Lib Dem) – Vice Chair

Former Chairs and Vice Chairs

Development Committee

Cllr. Roy Reynolds (Cons) – Former Chair

Cllr. Barry Smith (Cons) – Former Vice Chair

Licensing and Appeals Committee

Cllr. Hilary Cox (Cons) – Former Chair

Cllr. Simon Shaw (Cons) – Former Vice Chair

Constitution Working Party

Cllr. Hilary Cox (Cons) – Former Chair

Cllr. Judy Oliver (Cons) – Former Vice Chair

Overview and Scrutiny

Cllr. Karen Ward (Lib Dem) Chair remains unchanged

Cllr. Glyn Williams (Cons) – Former Vice Chair

Standards Committee

Cllr. Robert Stevens (Cons) – Former Chair

Cllr. Maggie Prior (Cons) – Former Vice Chair

Governance, Risk and Audit Committee

Cllr. Vincent FitzPatrick (Cons) – Former Chair

Cllr. Mike Knowles (Cons) – Former Vice Chair