THE driving force behind the establishment of Andover Town Council has resigned because of what he describes as ‘a shabby manoeuvre’ by the Tories, which saw him removed from a committee.

Independent councillor Tony Raper was chairman of the successful campaign for a town council and it’s first chairman following inaugural elections in May 2010.

He said his decision to resign was taken with ‘much regret and after a considerable deal of thought and on a matter of principle’ – but could cost the council up to £10,000 if there is a contested election to replace him.

He says the decision to remove him from the staffing committee was a result of the Conservative group closing party political ranks.

He said: “To have voted me off that committee when I was absent due to ill-health was a shabby manoeuvre, whatever the excuse. Especially after the staffing committee voted to request the full council for ‘...

no change in the make-up of the committee’ in order to create some stability for the council’s staff.

“We now have a chairman who opposed the formation of the council in the first place.

“It is with great sadness that I have had to take this step as I have made many friends among those councillors whose intent is to make our town a better place in which to live and work.“ Town council chairman David Drew said he was saddened by Tony Raper’s resignation and highlighted his extensive knowledge of the town’s history as one of the area’s local historians.

The Conservative councillor said: “Despite its relatively small size and limited powers the Andover Town Council was always going to involve an element of local politics.

“At its annual meeting Andover Town Council agreed that no councillor should serve on more than three committees.

“Tony had put his name forward for four of the committees.

The majority of the ATC felt it was prudent to reduce Tony’s commitment to three committees.”

“At the public vote for the town council in 2009 the Millway ward of Andover voted to reject the idea [of a town council].

“I, with the other local Millway councillors, decided that this minority view should be represented and heard at the council meeting. To do otherwise would have meant ignoring the local electors.

“The make-up of the town council is a reflection of the democratic process.”

He pointed out that if the council could co-opt a new member on to the council it would save a significant sum.