LABOUR leader Peter Rankin has been accused of deliberately turning last week's full council meeting into chaos.

The claim comes from independents Terry and Joyce Cartwright, who say Coun Rankin tried to enrage opposition members.

During the six-and-a-half hour meeting the leader tried to have three of the five motions presented to council withdrawn to save time - with only his two motions remaining.

The move provoked an outcry from Coun Mick Moulding, who became embroiled in a slanging match with chairman Coun Rose Kinsella.

Coun Rankin then appealed for someone to call the police, before blaming the Lib Dems for the collapse. But Coun Cartwright said: "Coun Rankin's suggestion was designed to provoke the opposition, and while we were mad about it, we kept quiet.

"By suggesting the other motions be held over suggested that no one elses contributions were worthwhile."

One of Coun Rankin's proposals was for the council to endorse a letter to Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, asking for recent actions of Lib Dem councillors to be condemned.

Motions by other committee members included recommending all properties be repaired before new tenants moved in, not after - which was eventually backed by all of the council.

Coun Rankin blamed the Lib Dems for the confusion. He said: "It is impossible to parody the circus over the past few weeks, particularly in the wake of this latest caper."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.