Green councillor misleads residents at public meeting.
At a stormy EGM in St Mary’s Church, St James Street last night, local business man, Jeremy Odgen was elected chair of the St James’ Community Action Group (SJCAG).
The EGM had been originally called by a group of petitioners to elect people to empty posts on the SJCAG executive committee.
Chris Cooke was elected chair of SJCAG in April 2013 but stepped aside “to recharge his batteries” after claiming he was being bullied in post and it was affecting his health. When he announced he was returning to the group the remaining members of the SJCAG steering group refused to acknowledge him as their chair.
At the start of the EGM local resident Nick Head a member of the SJCAG steering group proposed a vote of no confidence in Mr Cooke which was carried. Mr Head proposed a similar vote of no confidence in SJCAG secretary Frank Haig, but Mr Haig was re-elected to his post as secretary after agreeing to attend all steering group meetings as well as the SJCAG public meetings.
An election for all executive posts followed with Jeremy Ogden being elected chair. David Spafford vice chair, Fiona Shackley treasurer and Alan Donaldson communications officer.
Cllr Stephanie Powell, a Green councillor for Queens Park Ward and one of the two Green party champions on LGBT issues questioned Mr Cooke’s suitability to be chair because she claimed he was a candidate for Labour in the 2015 Council Elections. She argued if the SJCAG was to remain non party political he should not be able to stand as chair.
Mr Cooke who stood as a candidate for Labour in Queens Park in the 2011 local council elections denied having been chosen as a Labour candidate for 2015. Warren Morgan leader of the labour group has confirmed to Gscene that candidates had not been selected for the 2015 elections in Queens Park. Selections he said will resume next month after further candidates have been added to the candidate pool. At present no date has been set for the selection process.
Queens Park is considered a marginal seat at the 2015 elections:
Votes cast in 2011 were:
Geoffrey Bowden Green Party 2227 15% Elected
Stephanie Powell Green Party 2221 15% Elected
Ben Duncan Green Party 2147 14% Elected
Daniel Anthony Chapman The Labour and Co-operative Party 1970 13% Not elected
Christopher Martyn Cooke The Labour and Co-operative Party 1867 12% Not elected
Tom French The Labour and Co-operative Party 1822 12% Not elected
For more information about the SJCAG, CLICK HERE:
For full details about Queens Park Council elections in 2011, CLICK HERE:
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