INDEX	April 21, 1989
See all stories on the subject of the snooze.
Councillor slept through vital vote A "SLEEPING" councillor sparked a walkout and claims that a council meeting was "fixed." Liberal Democrat Chris Millington stormed out of last Thursday's full council meeting after Mayor John Walsh's decision to re-take a vote Labour Councillor Jo Brind apparently slept through. The vote resulted in a tie-break of 26 votes to 26,giving the Mayor the casting vote for Labour. "Councillor Brind did not vote, he was asleep," said Liberal Democrat Phillip Arnold. Tempers flared as Mr Brind denied sleeping, saying: "Mr Mayor, I think you could have easily ascertained the way I would have voted." Mr Arnold demanded the vote be discounted, but the Mayor decided to re-take it amid shouts of protest But Mr Millington said angrily: "The whole thing stinks. When you take a vote, if a person does not vote, that person is abstaining." He left, followed by party colleagues. Mr Brind slammed the Liberal Democrats' action as "typically childish". Conservative Leader Mike Lewis said the Tories considered joining the walkout, but decided against it.
My note: I think the exchange between John and myself amounted to basically me suggesting that the vote be taken again. There was even a procedure of having named votes (councillors had to say how they were voting when their name was called out-- a poll vote I think they called it.) If the issue had not just been a stunt they could have called for a poll vote.
Waltham Forest Guardian, April 21, 1989.