Council vote on membership

I write after having seen The Times's report ( February 22), which does not reflect the true facts. To start with, I did not attend the council meeting on February 20 because I was hospitalised. I had been in hospital since February 12 and was discharged on February 22.

Notwithstanding my physical absence, I had written to the executive secretary of the council on February 17 strongly objecting that such a matter be raised at a formal council meeting. I did not and do not consider that these are matters which fall within the letter and spirit of the legislation that set up local government 10 years ago.

I also phoned the mayor a short while before the meeting to reiterate my views, instructing him to ensure that a proper record of my dissent be entered in council minutes and also to see to it that for the sake of posterity my no vote was to be made public.

I am in a minority: six councillors represent the Nationalist Party as against my position, having been elected in the interests of the Labour Party.

The mayor and executive secretary had given their tacit assent to my statement and request.

In my original letter to the council I had stated categorically that my vote was de jure and de facto against the motion as tabled by the mayor and seconded by the vice mayor.