By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A by-election is planned for Bingham Town Council after two members departed their posts at the authority.
Councillor Gemma Simms (Con) has resigned and councillor Monica Monni (Con) will also depart.
An election for both vacancies in Bingham East and Bingham West will take place in March.
The authority is now being monitored by an improvement board approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council after hundreds of Bingham residents signed a petition which branded the council as “manipulative, secretive and over-controlling”.
It comes after two councillors, Francis Purdue-Horan and John Stockwood were found to have breached Bingham Town Council’s Member Code of Conduct and were expelled from the Conservative party.
Cllr Simms had previously spoken in favour of the improvement board and described how she once felt like she didn’t have a voice within the council.
A report on the progress of the improvement board will be given to the Cabinet in July 2022.
A statement from Bingham Town Council read: “It has been confirmed that valid requests were received by the Returning Officer of Rushcliffe Borough Council for an election to take place to the fill the vacancies to the Bingham East and Bingham West Wards of Bingham Town Council.
“An election for both vacancies will take place on Thursday March 31 where contested.
“A notice of election has been published and prospective candidates have until 4pm on Friday March 4 to submit nomination papers.”
Both councillors were approached for comment.
