Residents are questioning the way in which a councillor was recently co-opted onto Sandy Town Council.
Paul Sharman was voted onto the council without having to read his personal statement aloud after fellow candidate John Gurney made the council aware he could not be present until later in the meeting.
However, Sandy Town Council deny any wrongdoing, and says it followed the correct procedures set out by the Local Government Act 1972.
Local resident, Stephen Allen, who was at the meeting said: “In my opinion, John Gurney’s statement should have been read out and Paul Sharman should have had to make his statement.”
There was also controversy when one of the candidates refused to have their background information published.
Mr Allen said: “A co-option allows for considered judgements to ensure the best person is chosen.
“This means background information on those putting themselves forward as candidates should be available for an open and transparent assessment of their respective talents.”
On this issue Sandy Town Council have accepted the process was not ideal.
Town Clerk, Delia Shephard, said: “I will advise the council to consider whether it wishes to change its forms for co-option of candidates in the future to include notification that all details on the co-option form may be published.”
The co-option proceedings relied on councillors making a proposal and then being seconded.
If two or more candidates were proposed then a vote would have taken place to decide who was most suitable for the role.
Ms Shephard added: “If members of the public wanted an election they had the opportunity to ask for one when the casual vacancy was declared and advertised (all of which was properly done) but they didn’t.”
There was also controversy about the timing of the co-option as John Gurney, one of the two candidates, could not be at the meeting until 9pm yet the vote was one of the first things on the agenda.
Sandy resident, George Konstandinidis, who was present at the council meeting, said: “I found this process unfair and undemocratic and I have been seriously disturbed by what I witnessed.”
The residents say the co-option of Councillor Sharman has raised significant questions regarding the electoral process of Sandy Town Council leavingthem confused.