CONTROVERSY rumbles on over a decision to block the election of a councillor as deputy mayor of Oswestry.

There has been much debate over the decision at an Oswestry Town Council meeting not to elect Councillor Duncan Kerr as deputy, despite his being next in line on the seniority list.

It has been revealed that some councillors have discussed with town clerk David Preston the possibility of revisiting the issue before the mayor-making ceremony in May.

Oswestry resident John Penney asked the Planning and Development Committee how it could justify the move, “simply because a group set aside the standing orders”.

Cllr Mike Isherwood, who chaired the meeting, said it would be “unfair to revisit that meeting this evening”, as the matter was not on the agenda, nor to do with the committee.

But he did mention a decision by Mayor of Oswestry, Cllr Sandy Best, to ask for an agenda item later this year to revisit, and as appropriate, revise the standing order on the election of mayor and deputy mayor.

He added that certain councillors had discussions with Mr Preston on what options were available if a “group of councillors are minded to attempt to revisit the issue before the mayor-making ceremony in May, in terms of both process and timescale”.

Cllr Kerr was next in line to fill the role in accordance with the list of seniority which is used to elect the mayor and deputy mayor on an annual basis.

But at a recent town council meeting, members voted against Cllr Kerr, and instead elected Cllr Mark Jones to take on the role for 2019/20, and consequently become mayor the following year.