Maldon town councillors have voted unanimously to suspend disgraced fellow councillor Keith Munnion.

At an extraordinary meeting they decided to suspend him from active participation in any representative capacity - including all committees, sub-committees and working parties - for the rest of the 1998/99 municipal year.

The meeting was called by councillor Tom Kelly and supported by Peter Roberts and Eric Bannister.

Three times Maldon mayor and former chairman of Maldon District Council, Mr Munnion has admitted fraudulently obtaining housing benefit and income support totalling more than £5,480.

He has resigned as chairman of finance and general purposes and will be sentenced by magistrates next month.

The council had intended discussing Mr Munnion and the motion to suspend him behind closed doors because it felt "in view of the confidential nature of the business to be discussed" it was "advisable in the public interest".

However, the ban was successfully challenged on the grounds it did not involve confidential matter and the public had a right to know what was being said by the council about another member.

Tom Kelly proposed the press and public should stay and the motion was carried.

He told councillors: "This is very much in the public interest from the calls I have received from people.

"Everything must be seen to be above board. There must be no doubt about that."

An additional amendment proposed by deputy mayor Paul Rew to suspend Mr Munnion until the the court's decision on his sentence was thrown out.

Mayor Peter Nickolls said it was important the council decided on the issue immediately and Peter Roberts agreed because of "ill feeling" in the town.

Mr Munnion was not available for comment.

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