ANOTHER bitter fight is to be launched over control of Tendring Council.

Amid claims it is becoming “ungovernable” and that councillors are playing politics, rather than worrying about serving their residents, Tendring Council’s ruling Tories are facing a fresh attempt to oust them from power.

A bid to seize power, led by Tendring First, failed last month after council chairman Nick Turner closed an emergency meeting two-and-a-half minutes after it started.

This prevented a motion calling on him, and council leader Neil Stock, to be removed from office.

Opposition leader David Lines has now put forward a motion calling for Mr Stock to be removed from his position at Thursday’s council meeting.

The Tory-led administration, and the opposition, both have 30 seats on the council, leaving the Tory chairman with the vital casting vote.

But if the Tories have any absentees at the meeting, the opposition could seize power. Mr Lines said: “The main reason for doing this is because we were unable to put the motion forward at the emergency meeting.

“There is an inability to govern, they are avoiding public accountability, there is a lack of normal day-to-day governance and persistent undemocratic behaviour. ”

Mr Lines criticised the Tories for: l Ignoring a consultation with residents over plans for a surgery in Holland-on-Sea l Attempting to restrict some councillors from accessing parts of council buildings l Relying on council chairman Nick Turner’s “unprecedented behaviour” to retain power at the last council meeting.

Mr Stock said he was “very disappointed” the opposition is making yet another attempt to seize power.

“They are just playing politics with the good governance of the council and should be ashamed,” he said.

“The council is not able to operate with the opposition calling in every decision and trying to stop everything we are doing. The people who are suffering are not the politicians, but the residents of Tendring.

“David Lines thinks he has a God-given right to rule Tendring, but since I became leader in May, the Conservatives have won every seat at the county council elections and by-elections for Frinton town council and the district council.”

Mr Lines added: “The only person who thinks he has a God-given right to rule the council is the chairman, which is evident by his actions at the emergency meeting.”