Temporary appointments after entire council quit
GoogleFour councillors have been temporarily appointed to a town council after all of its members quit in the space of a fortnight.
Yarm Town Council was left "unable to act" following the 11 resignations earlier this month, some of which were put down to ongoing hostility and claims of a "toxic" atmosphere.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said four of its members, including one who had resigned from the town council, had been appointed until elections were held.
A spokesperson said the resignations meant the town council was "unable to act, as a minimum of four councillors, known as quorum, is required".
It explained because there were so many vacancies, the borough council "may, by order, appoint a person or persons to fill all or any of the vacancies until other town councillors are co-opted or elected to take office".
The local authority used its power under the Local Government Act 1972 to appoint John Coulson, Andrew Sherris, Elsi Hampton and Stefan Houghton.
It followed an initial wave of seven resignations at the beginning of June.
Coulson, who also represents Yarm on the borough council, was one of the town councillors who resigned - also giving up his roles as chairman and mayor - alongside six others.
He previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We left because the situation became untenable and in some ways impossible to carry on.
"We couldn't progress and proceed how things were."
Councillors Pamela Smailes, Brian Newcombe and husband and wife Bob and Barbara Wegg cited ongoing hostility and a "toxic" atmosphere for their resignations last week.
The borough council said a notice of election would be published on its website in the coming weeks, no later than 10 July.