A SENIOR member of Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet called the rules which prevented some cllrs from voting on the stadium plans “unfair”.

Cllr Katrina Wood was one of five members barred from voting during last Monday’s Cabinet meeting in which the stadium and sports village plan for Wycombe Air Park was sensationally axed (see links below).

Just four members – leader Cllr Alex Collingwood, deputy leader Cllr Arif Hussain, and Cllrs James Malliff and Audrey Jones – were allowed to vote, sparking outrage from some quarters of the council and residents.

This was due to WDC’s Members Code of Conduct, in which cllrs are urged not to participate if they have a “prejudicial or personal interest” in an agenda item.

Cllr Wood told the Bucks Free Press she received legal advice and was told not to vote because she is a Wycombe Wanderers season-ticket holder and, therefore, had a perceived interest.

She said: “I think it’s unfair if you’re elected to represent constituents but not allowed to take part [in the vote], even if some members were allowed to speak [before the vote].

“But they are the rules at the moment. I am hoping the Localism Bill will change that, make improvements and give us more freedom.”

Cllr Hugh McCarthy refused to comment on the guidelines – but confirmed he did not vote because his daughter is a season-ticket holder at London Wasps.

Booker and Cressex Cllr Simon Parker was thrilled with the decision to cull the stadium but called the process of the crunch meeting ‘alarming’.

He said: "The events leading up to the decision will cause both confusion and alarm.

"By debarring Cabinet members who had previously taken a public stance on this issue, the norms of democracy were surely turned on their head.

"If a candidate states a position, and seeks a mandate from their electorate to work towards that position, the expectation of the electorate would then surely be that once elected they will do all in their power to achieve that stated aim."

WDC spokesman Catherine Spalton said there is a standard item on all agendas under the rules for cllrs to declare an interest.

This may result in members leaving the room or choosing not to participate in an item if they decide they have already effectively made up their mind.

She added: “In all such cases, if a councillor decides not to participate it will ultimately be in the interest of fairness to the proceedings.”