VOTING in a new town council chairman is usually a mundane affair.

But things didn’t go so smoothly at the Whitehill and Bordon Town Council amenities committee meeting last Monday night when tension mounted after councillors were asked to nominate a new chairman because the present one, Chris Mitchell, had completed his year.

Mr Mitchell had said he wanted to stand again but then councillors Ian Georgii and Colin Leach both raised their hands to nominate Adam Carew, the former town council leader.

This was promptly followed by other members nominating Mr Mitchell, so a vote had to be taken.

At this point Mr Carew said he was not sure if he wanted to be nominated, and then added: “No, I don’t want to stand.”

But a vote was taken, in which six councillors voted for Mr Mitchell, including Lynn Malikoff-Johnston who, as she raised her hand, shouted to Mr Georgii: “I don’t care - I know what I am doing.” There were three against.

Mr Georgii and Mr Leach then raised their hands to show their support for Mr Carew, even though he had said he did not want to be chairman. Mr Carew then proceeded to tell the new chairman, who had called him “Adam”: “Councillor Carew to you.”

Later, as Mr Mitchell called everyone by their first names, Mr Carew said: “Very well, Chris.” To this, Mr Mitchell replied: “Let’s not embarrass ourselves in front of the East Hampshire principal regeneration officer and the press.”