OPPOSITION councillors at Ross-on-Wye Town Council have expressed anger as once again its top jobs all went to members of the majority party.

Independent Councillor Daniel Lister said in a letter in last week’s Ross Gazette: “All non-Liberal Democrat councillors were once again overlooked for any chairmanship roles on committees, as well as the mayor and deputy mayor roles.”

At the well-attended annual town meeting Cllr Sarah Freer was elected as the town’s Mayor for the next 12 months, despite having previously ruled herself out for the role until the day of the mayoral election.

Fellow LibDem Julian Utting will serve as deputy mayor as well as chairing the management, finance and property committees.

“This is from a party that states locally and nationally that it does not cause division and will work with anyone,” Cllr Lister added – though he offered “congratulations to all those duly elected at the end of his letter”.

Cllr Saskia Harrison, independent, who was elected to the council in Auguast last year, said in a video posted on social media she was “really frustrated” by the meeting, while Cllr Milly Boylan, also independent, said: “To call themselves liberal, or democratic, is the biggest joke, they are neither!”

Also recently elected Reform UK councillor Richard McEvoy stated: “Despite the town's diverse political landscape, the Lib Dem majority once again ensured that every single major role—from mayor and deputy mayor to the chairmanship of management, planning, finance, personnel, and amenities, were filled exclusively by their own ranks.

“This isn't leadership; it's a closed shop. The LibDems vote as a monolith, effectively silencing any perspective that doesn’t carry a yellow rosette.”

He said that a ‘coalition’ of himself, two Conservatives and four independents work together, regardless of differences, there is always respect – something very lacking with the ruling party.

Local resident Mark Finning also pointed out in a letter to the Gazette: “A healthy signal of good leadership in public organisations is one where the same people don’t cling to the top roles and this allows for positive development and improvement of services.

“Sadly though, once again, when it came to voting, again, no non-Lib Dem was appointed to any of these positions, with the majority of Liberal Democrat councillors voting for their own in all cases.”

The LibDem group hit back with a joint statement saying: “There is something rather odd about claiming democracy is being undermined simply because a democratically elected majority exercises the mandate residents repeatedly gave it.”

They pointed out: “In councils across the country, it is entirely normal for the majority group to appoint people it believes can work together effectively and deliver the administration’s programme.

“It is simply how representative democracy works.”

Cllr Sarah Freer’s progression from deputy mayor to mayor followed longstanding custom in electing the top civic roll, while Cllr Julian Utting’s appointment as deputy arose as he “is currently the longest-serving councillor who has not previously served as mayor”, a method previously backed by opposition councillors.