RESIDENTS were asked to leave a parish council meeting last night when they questioned the chair outside the public speaking section.

Chairman of Hughenden Parish Council Peggy Ewart adjourned the meeting for a few minutes after questions were raised about a letter being sent to a member of the public.

She said: “I don't have to have people here who are disrespecting the council. We do have a policeman present.”

Cllr Ewart asked for the public to leave but said representatives could stay. The meeting was adjourned but after nobody left it began again.

The row started when councillor Lin Smith asked why a letter had been sent over the summer to Nick Morris, who resigned as a councillor earlier in the year, without the council's agreement.

She said: “I am very angry that something that might be used in litigation has been used in my name.”

Mr Morris began to hand out copies of the letter to councillors when Cllr Ewart said he would have to leave.

Cllr David Jarman said the council gave emergency powers to the chairman in July when the council finished for summer and she has done “nothing wrong.”

There were calls for the council to resign from members of the public. Mr Morris said: “I asked a number of questions. Everytime I ask a question it is never answered.”

Buckinghamshire County Councillor Richard Pushman said: “As a senior councillor here the public should respect the chair.”

Earlier Cllr Tony Konieczny questioned the chair about a comment made at the last council meeting. He said Cllr Ewart had said the process of Rural Affordable Housing had been approved by the Wycombe District Council.

Cllr Ewart said Cllr Konieczny could not speak as he had not put forward an item under Matters Arising.

He said: “The chairman has said she is not going to enter into any correspondence with me whatsoever and we are not allowed to talk amongst councillors.

“This is the only vehicle I have and I am going to insist on having it. I am not going treated as a second class councillor and have someone else do my business for me.”

He asked for Cllr Ewart to provide evidence to back her statement up.

Following the meeting the public and the press were excluded for three items to be heard.

They included arrangements for a meeting to hear complaints from Ed Furness regarding request for information, further information regarding comments made by Nick Morris in public, and press and information regarding two internal complaints issues.