A NEW bid to oust Ryedale District Council’s leader, Coun Keith Knaggs, was heavily defeated at last week’s annual meeting.
Coun Paul Andrews, who unsuccessfully tried to axe the post a year ago, told councillors that having a leader gave the post-holder “extraordinary power”.
He accused Coun Knaggs of “not having the interests of small business at heart” and in a hard-hitting blow, added: “He is not the right person to lead Ryedale through the recession.”
His opposition was echoed by Coun John Clark, who added: “Giving that sort of power to a member is not of benefit to the council.”
But Coun Linda Cowling, who successfully moved that Ryedale District Council should have a leader, said Coun Knaggs had proved that he was able to give “focus and direction” to Ryedale and as a result the authority had flourished.
She said: “No one would be prepared to work harder than Coun Knaggs has done for Ryedale.”
At the end of the debate, Coun Knaggs was reappointed leader by 21 votes to one, with six abstentions.
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