Councillors said to be facing deselection from the Labour party refused to discuss their position at a full council meeting.
It’s believed that five Redcar and Cleveland councillors have been told by Labour North they are not allowed to stand for re-election in May.
Cabinet members Steve Goldswain and Norman Pickthall, the current Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Carole Simms and Brian Hogg batted away questions over their position on Thursday. Cllr Brian Briggs was not in attendance.
While debating health issues after deputy council leader Shelagh Clarke presented a report on her health and wellbeing portfolio, Independent Cllr Tristan Learoyd asked: “How come we are not allowed to speak about issues surrounding the future of councillors in the leadership?
“The constitution says we can. It is surely a pertinent issue in the public interest.”
And after being unhappy with an answer from Cllr Pickthall about council finances, Cllr Steve Kay asked: “How do you justify your position when you have been deselected?”
None of the councillors said to have been deselected made any comment on the matter during the meeting.
Council Leader George Dunning confirmed to The Gazette last week that he had been contacted by a number of councillors who had told him they had been de-selected.
It’s believed their future could be in doubt following interviews conducted by party officials over the past month.
It is not currently known publicly why the quintet are facing deselection.
But Cllr Dunning added that he was unhappy about the situation - and agreed that it had caused “turmoil” within the party.
He is advising those involved to appeal against the decision.
Should the councillors decide to appeal, they will be interviewed by different regional board members alongside a representative from another region.
Cllr Goldswain represents Eston and is cabinet member for community protection, while Cllr Pickthall, the cabinet member for corporate resources, represents Teesville.
Cllr Simms, Cllr Briggs and Cllr Hogg represent Normanby, Skelton and Brotton respectively.
Cllrs Pickthall and Goldswain told The Gazette they could not comment.
Cllr Briggs confirmed he had been deselected and was planning to appeal.
The remaining councillors were unavailable for comment when contacted last week.
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