A COUNCILLOR who was threatened with eviction from his regular seat in the council chamber was allowed to retain it today (Wednesday, October 29).

John Shuttleworth, an independent member of Durham County Council, had been told he could no longer sit at his usual table at the front of the council chamber at County Hall.

However, he took his seat for today’s full council meeting as usual without being challenged.

Cllr Shuttleworth’s independent group was allowed to sit at the front for health reasons relating to its former members Eddie Murphy and Reg Ord.

However, Cllr Murphy died in May and Mr Ord is no longer a county councillor and a decision to end the arrangement was taken by the authority’s constitutional working group.

Derwentside Independents leader Watts Stelling said there was no good reason for the arrangement to continue and Cllr Shuttleworth had spat his dummy out.

Liberal Democrat leader Amanda Hopgood said it was protocol to return to the previous setup.

Cllr Shuttleworth has vowed to stay put.