AN UNPRECEDENTED motion of no confidence in the leader of Teignbridge Council, Lib Dem Cllr Alan Connett, was defeated following an, at times, heated exchange.

Hecklers in the public gallery at the full council meeting, held at Buckland Football Club to allow for social distancing, were repeatedly asked to be quiet by chairman Cllr Colin Parker.

The motion had been brought by fellow Lib Dem Cllr Andrew MacGregor who accused Cllr Connett of ‘poor leadership, poor conflict management, dreadful bias and very poor judgment’.

The complaint relates to the way Cllr MacGregor alleges Cllr Connett handled an altercation in the council chamber in September.

Cllr MacGregor referred back to the incident which occurred between Cllr Gary Taylor and Cllr Liam Mullone.

Cllr MacGregor said the altercation was a matter of public record and that Cllr Taylor ‘did grab the other councillor, did try to drag him from where he was standing and, from the recordings and stills seen afterwards, had at one point, a clenched fist and set jaw, while holding onto the other councillor’.

But the motion related to Cllr Connett’s handling of the fall-out which Cllr MacGregor claims the council leader failed to condemn.

He said: ‘This motion is not about personalities or a vendetta.

‘What a shame Cllr Connett did not exercise leadership skills and swiftly organise an unreserved apology and condemnation of acts of physical violence in the chamber at the first opportunity.

‘That would have closed this down.’

Cllr David Cox said Cllr Connett had a right to give a personal statement at which point there were shouts from the public gallery.

The chairman gave the members of the public a last warning.

Given a right of reply to make his personal statement, Cllr Connett said: ‘As individuals, councillors have a responsibility for our own actions and behaviour.

‘I welcomed Cllr Taylor’s apology and I have apologised for a comment I made which was felt inappropriate.’

Cllr Connett went on to suggest that councillors had not been transparent about property ownership and questions over company directorships although he failed to name them.

He said: ‘We are expected to adhere to standards but some keep issues secret from the public gaze.’

Cllr Phil Bullivant told the full council it was the first time in 43 years of the council’s existence that there had been a motion of no confidence brought to the authority.

He said: ‘Never has a motion been brought before the council like this.’

He suggested the council should look into setting a procedure into how such matters should be handled.

At the meeting, independent Cllr Alison Eden said: ‘Cllr Connett backed the wrong man in praising Cllr Taylor’s attack, sacked the only exec member who disagreed with his praising of Taylor’s egregious tackle and cracked down on every dissenting voice; when is he going to end his back, sack and crack version of leadership?’

The motion had been supported by Cllrs Bradford, Daws, Eden, Mullone and Patch.

It stated: ‘The reputation, not only of the elected representatives of Teignbridge, but also of the officers and staff of the council is at stake.

‘Failures of the leadership of Cllr Connett should not be ignored or lauded.’

It said the motion objected to the leader’s decision making in light of violent conduct in the chamber and the increasingly dangerous environment in which elected representatives, officers and staff must work.

Chairman Cllr Parker shut the meeting down shortly after Cllr Connett’s statement following further heckling.