Chairman resigns after society pair survive vote to oust them (From The Argus)

Chairman resigns after society pair survive vote to oust them

1:17pm Saturday 6th February 2010

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The chairman of an influential conservation group has resigned after a bid to oust two of its most senior committee members.

Roger Hinton is the third chairman to quit in the wake of a row which has left the Regency Society deeply divided.

Former Labour councillor Delia Forester and retired hotelier Audrey Simpson faced a secret ballot to remove them from the committee after they publicly backed plans for new homes at Brighton Marina.

Both survived the bid to oust them after a last minute amendment to censure them was carried by a show of hands instead last night.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Hinton who announced his resignation this morning.

He refused to explain his decision and said only: “I have resigned from the society with immediate effect so it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment.”

Voting on whether to allow the amendment was so close that two recounts had to be held at the Brighthelm Centre.

Nearly 200 of its 370 members attended the meeting but it is understood some left before the final vote was taken.

The decision to censure Ms Forester and Mrs Simpson was passed overwhelmingly on a show of hands.

They were accused of undermining the Society's opposition to proposals to build 1,300 homes and shops at the marina.

Both gave their public backing to the redevelopment of the Asda site at an inquiry last month while saying they were from the society.

Committee member Robert Nemeth said: “I am happy that the censure vote was passed but I am surprised Roger Hinton has resigned.

“He stepped in at very short notice to help the society through a moment of crisis.

“He was very professional in the way he handled the meeting and kept good order.

“I think it may just be the case that he does not want to be chairman and had just stepped in to help out in an emergency.”

Roger Amerena, chairman of the society's planning sub-committee, said he was happy with the outcome.

He added: “In the light of the censure it is now expected that Audrey Simpson will now stand down as vice-chairman, even if she is allowed to remain on the committee for the time being.

“We are still waiting for Delia Forester and Audrey Simpson to acknowledge that what they did at the Marina inquiry was not compatible with their status as trustees.”

Committee member Selma Montford added: “It is important that they realise the seriousness of what they did.

“The important lesson is that if you are on the committee you have to toe the committee line and you can't just give your own opinion “A committee member should abide by its decisions otherwise they should resign.”

There were also allegations that the move to oust both women was part of a power struggle to clear the way for a new chairman.

Save Hove campaigner Valerie Paynter said: “This was about a fight for the soul of the Regency Society.

“It was about what its remit is going to be because it has so far purely been about conservation. We now have to find a balance for the future.”

Mrs Simpson said she and Ms Forester had apologised to the committee at a meeting on January 12.

She added: “I think it is terribly sad that Roger Hinton has resigned.

“He is the third chairman to go and they have resigned because of the bitterness and nastiness that is going on.

“It leaves the society at a crossroads as to how we go forward from here.

“I have no intention of standing down as vice-chairman because the vote was not for us to stand down as trustees.

“I do now regret addressing the Marina inquiry because it has caused so many problems for a society that I care passionately about.”

Ms Forester, a former councillor for Queens Park, Brighton, was not available for comment.

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