Riponians met tonight to decide whether to hold a parish poll on whether they have confidence in the mayor, Councillor Barbara Brodigan. This is what happened at Holy Trinity Church. 

8.38pm: Meeting ends unresolved

More people voted against the wording than for it. The clerk will now seek advice from North Yorkshire Council on how to proceed. 

8.28pm: Wording of poll 

A vote will now take place on whether the wording of the poll will be: 'Do you have confidence in Cllr Barbara Brodigan?' 

8.24pm: 'This is new to me', says clerk

Clerk Adam Chugg says this is new ground for him because he has never been to a parish meeting that has voted for a poll when "a sizeable margin" voted against it in a motion at the meeting. 

8.21pm: More than 10 people support poll

People are asked to stand if they support a poll. The number slightly exceeds the required 10. Debate over the wordiing of a poll is now taking place.

8.16pm: 'How can anyone question legality of poll?'

Meg Munn says contrary to Brian McHugh's comment, there is a "degree of interpretation" over how matters proceed. A woman responds by saying the issue should be put to the wider public rather than allow this meeting to be "coralled" by a group. She says: "I don't see how anyone can question the legality of a parish poll."

8.10pm: Pleas for poll not to go ahead

Several people call for the poll not to go ahead but Brian McHugh says the law is clear — if 10 people call for a poll it should go ahead.

Clerk Adam Chugg says he is struggling to come up with wording for a poll calling for no confidence in Cllr Brodigan when this meeting has shown opposition to it.

8.01pm: Poll 'of no benefit'

An audience member says a poll would be "likely" to cost £10,000, receive a "miniscule" response from voters and would not be legally binding. "It will be of no benefit to the people of Ripon," he says.

7.56pm: Parish poll issue remains unresolved

Although the majority in the room voted to oppose a parish poll, clerk Adam Chugg says the issue of whether the poll — which can be triggered by just 10 people — goes ahead has yet to be resolved. The meeting is continuing although many people left after the motion vote.

7.52pm: MOTION DEFEATED

The motion of no confidence in Cllr Brodigan is defeated. 

7.46pm: 'No police complaint against me'

Cllr Brodigan finally speaks. She denies bullying and says the chaos that led to this meeting was caused by the previous regime. She says the allegations of fraud are "completely false and defamatory" and goes on to say she has been told by the police that there is no complaint against her, even though Cllr Hawke says he lodged one. 

7.41pm: 'Where will it end?'

Julie Camplejohn says she was with Cllr Crozier the night before her resignation and the ex-mayor was "broken" because of what she'd had to endure. She asks where all this wiil end. 

7.36pm: 'Dangerous' not to have poll

Brian McHugh says it would be undemocratic if 150 to 200 people in a room could prevent the wider Ripon electorate of 12,000 people from having their say in a parish poll. 

Meg Munn responds by saying parish polls are "fundamentally flawed" and people will have their say in the next city council elections in 2027.  She says: "This would not only be pointless, it would be undemocratic, uninclusive and not fair."

7.25pm: Heated exchange 

Cllr Pauline McHardy, a supporter of Cllr Brodigan, and Sandra Craven, whose motion led to tonight's meeting, exchange sharp words as things get heated.

7.20pm: 'Who sanctioned rainbow flag?'

Phil Bustard asks whether the decision to fly a rainbow flag over the town hall was sanctioned. Ms Kenworthy says it was sanctioned and the comment highlights some of the unfair comments Cllr Crozier has faced.

7.11pm: 'Jackie was doing amazing things'

Anna Kenworthy, who is chairing the no confidence debate, says she is a lifelong friend of Cllr Crozier and it is "disgusting the way she has been treated". She says Cllr Croier did "amazing things" as mayor and "people want to drag her down".

She says Cllr Crozier has been slandered for being a lesbian, which provokes a loud response, with one woman saying that allegation is "pathetic".

7.05pm: Staff departures raised

Dennis Tartar, a member of the Cathedral Support Group, says the old regime, led by Cllrs Andrew Williams and Jackie Crozier, must take responsibility for the loss of city council staff that has led to recent problems.

He is followed by a speaker suggesting the two factions on the council embark on mediation, then Dr Tom Cavell-Taylor, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the forthcoming Ure Bank by-election, speaks in favour of Cllr Brodigan, who he says has shown "dignity in the face of malicious allegations".

7pm: 'Scaremongering' claim over costs

Brian McHugh says claims by pro-Brodigan supporters that a poll could cost £10,000 to £20,000 were 'scaremongering' as the cost at the start was out at £5,000 to £7,000 but two other speakers question the value of holding a non-binding vote.

6.55pm: 'Go for it'

After 20 minutes of procedural issues, Cllr Brodigan vacates the chair and Anna Kenworthy takes over for confidence debate on the mayor. She urges people to 'go for it' by raising any points.

6.51pm: Cost of poll highlighted

Cllr Brodigan says she has been advised by the National Association of Local Councils has advised her to point out that any result would be "not binding" so "the mayor cannot be forced to resign". She also says the association has told her to make the public aware the cost would come from council reserves or on the parish precept. 

6.45pm: Agenda running order altered

A call to discuss 'any other parish affairs' first rather than last, as it was listed on the agenda, is passed by 41 votes to 25.

6.38pm: Mayor opens meeting

Cllr Brodigan is chairing the meeting but will step aside when the vote of no confidence in her is debated.

6.29pm: Parish poll would be "costly and pointing"

A leaflet has been distributed saying a poll would be "costly and pointless".

6.13pm: Attendance is building

Holy Trinity Church is filling up, with 15 minutes to go until the meeting is due to start.

6pm: What triggered the meeting?

Tonight's meeting was triggered on September 25 when resident Sandra Craven handed in a motion for a vote of no confidence in Councillor Barbara Brodigan to Ripon City Council. Her motion received 30 signatures.

5.45pm: Stormy night expected

Tonight's meeting, which starts at 6.30pm, follows an extraordinary two months at Ripon City Council, which has seen former mayor, Councillor Jackie Crozier, resign and numerous changes implemented under new mayor, Cllr Barbara Brodigan.

There are now two town hall camps — an unaligned group led by Liberal Democrat Cllr Brodigan, and an independents group, led by Cllr Andrew Williams, who is a member of the Conservative Party.

A by-election this month could determine who has control of the council. Tonight’s meeting is a chance for residents to have their say and decide whether to hold a parish poll. But any outcome would not be legally binding, leading to claims by the mayor's supporters that a poll would be a waste of money.