The infamous council that went viral in a hilarious video has received awarningover allegations of blocking elections and members’ poor conduct in meetings.
The Zoom meeting became an internet sensation after it descended into pandemonium when clerk Jackie Weaver was shouted at by several other members of the council, including one member who declared “you have no authority here, Jackie Weaver”.
Another member also screamed abuse at the unperturbed clerk when she ejected one person from the meeting.
She then calmly also placed him in the waiting room of the meeting.
Now, a letter from an officer at Cheshire East Council, which is responsible for overseeing Handforth Parish Council and the source of Jackie Weaver’s authority, has shed light on other issues facing the chaotic council.
While it is not known if the letter came before the sensational meeting, it does reference "multiple complaints about councillors' behaviour", Cheshire Live reports.
It says: "Some members of Handforth Parish Council have purported to take decisions that are plainly unlawful, and these decisions have resulted in expenditure of public funds”.
There is even allusion that some members, not named, put forward that elections to the parish council should not be held, a suggestion condemned as "misconceived and wholly inappropriate” by Cheshire East Council.
Compliance officers at Cheshire East have also warned that if the issues raised are found to be true, they may constitute misconduct in public office.
This could result in disciplinary action being pursued against the officers at fault, but at present this is still in the early stages.
The Daily Star is attempting to contact Handforth Parish Council for comment.
Jackie Weaver has since become an online celebrity, and has used the opportunity to encourage people to take a more active role in local government.
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