I ATTENDED the first Lydney Town Council meeting as a member of public at the inauguration of the newly elected (and unopposed elected) council members.

I have concerns about the secret ballot appointing the new chairman/mayor.

No statement was publicly made of the number of votes cast for each of the two nominated candidates, by the returning officers who left the chamber and counted the votes in private.

Then followed the voting in of the deputy Mayor about which I had concerns.

The election of committee members was an embarrassment as only a small minority – mainly members of the previous administration – put themselves up for nomination causing an intervention by the Town Clerk who reminded them they were newly-elected councillors and they were not forthcoming in serving their electorate.

The report I read in the Forester Newspaper that the new Mayor (Councillor Osborne) refused to attend the official annual civic ceremony and the service was subsequently cancelled (not for financial reasons).

Councillor Osborne stated that he was an ardent campaigner that the service should be held elsewhere and for his own principled beliefs he could not attend this year's service if it was held at Lydney St Mary's. To my knowledge it has not always been at the same church.

Upon three occasions it was actually held at Lydney Baptist Church.

Two town councillors who served on the previous council with Councillor Osborne stated that in the last four years he made no sound or intention of motion to the town council concerning the venue of the civic service.

As regards to Councillor Bill Osborne stating that (as quoted in your publication) that he would not be just a follower of instructions, he should be reminded that he is the newly-elected Labour Party member for Lydney East on the district council where the Labour Whip could cause him to have some painstaking decisions to make .

In all, I am disappointed that he was prepared for his principles to get in the way of letting down the townspeople and cadet forces who proudly attend these civic ceremonies.

I also take it as read he may not in principle accept invitations to the other Gloucestershire Civic ceremonies where they similarly year-on-year have their services at the same churches.

"Eastender of Lydney"

(Name & address supplied)