Voters in two North Yorkshire villages have come out overwhelmingly in favour of dissolving the local town council following allegations of bullying.
In a parish poll held on 9 August, about 96% of voters (558 residents) voted for a proposal to dissolve Newby and Scalby Town Council and elect new members.
Just 19 voters were against the proposal.
The poll was organised by campaign group Friends of Newby and Scalby Wellbeing Hub, which said: ‘When a council made up of 13 members only receives a total of 19 votes it should stand down with immediate effect.’
Issues raised by the group include the loss of council-run events at a community hub and allegations of bullying in the workplace.
The council has said it takes the allegations ‘very seriously’ and has obtained an independent report.
Just 7% of residents voted in the poll, which the council previously said would cost about £3,500 to hold.
Newby and Scalby Town Council told local media: ‘Following a very poor turnout of only 7.14% of the electorate of 8,085, the parish poll result must be disappointing for the action group who are understood to have leafleted every household in Newby and Scalby.’
It has stressed that although a parish poll ‘can enable a local community to have a voice’, the result is not binding.
