Ashfield Independents in crisis after ten councillors quit in the space of a week
The Ashfield Independents are facing a major political upheaval after ten councillors quit in the space of a week, leaving it on the brink of losing its overall majority at Ashfield District Council.
The dramatic political shake-up at Ashfield District Council (ADC) comes after the former leader, Jason Zadrozny resigned after being found guilty of nine counts of fraud and four counts of tax evasion last month.
Six Hucknall councillors are among those leaving in the dramatic political shake-up.
The current situation (as of Friday October 23) is 13 councillors are sitting as non-aligned independents, while 18 Ashfield Independents remain, meaning the party is one councillor away from losing its majority.
The six Hucknall councillors reported to have left the Ashfield Independents are Coun Lee Waters, Hucknall Central, Coun Dave Shaw, Hucknall West, Coun Gordon Mann, Hucknall North, Coun John Wilmott, Hucknall North, Coun Trevor Locke, Hucknall South and Coun Ian Briggs, Hucknall West.
Among the most significant departures is Coun John Wilmott, who serves on Ashfield District Council's Cabinet and is also a Nottinghamshire County Councillor for Hucknall North. His departure raises questions about the future composition of the council's Cabinet, although leaving the political group does not automatically remove him from his Cabinet position.
The reported resignations leave just three Ashfield Independent councillors representing Hucknall – Coun Anna Ellis, Coun Nicholas Parvin and Coun Oliver Hay.
The upheaval extends beyond Hucknall, with four further councillors leaving the group – Coun Matthew Relf, Sutton Junction & Harlow Wood, Coun Dale Grounds, Kingsway, Coun Sarah Lewsey, Kirkby Cross & Portland and Coun Christopher Huskinson, Greenwood & Summit.
With 35 councillors on Ashfield District Council, a political group requires 18 seats to command an overall majority.
If all ten reported departures are formally reflected in the council's political balance, the Ashfield Independents would be left with exactly 18 councillors.
That would mean just one further resignation could bring an end to the group's overall majority.
Council leader Coun Samantha Deakin, who took over following Zadrozny's departure in September, now faces the challenge of leading an administration with a substantially reduced majority.
Coun Lee Waters, who represents Hucknall Central and was among the first to resign this week and said: "It's certainly been an eventful week in Ashfield politics.
"These are significant changes to the political landscape, particularly here in Hucknall.
"Whatever happens next, the important thing is that residents come first and Hucknall's interests remain a priority."