A COUNCILLOR who has been kicked off committees has labelled an extraordinary meeting “illegal”.

Evesham Town Council gathered last night (July 3) to discuss complaints made after a video featuring councillor Emma Nishigaki was circulated online.

At the meeting, it is understood councillors agreed to remove councillor Nishigaki from committees and working groups, as well as refer the matter to Wychavon District Council’s monitoring officer.

However, councillor Nishigaki claims the meeting was illegal and should not have taken place.

“Since before the election, there has been a social media campaign to smear my name.

“No occasion have I been officially asked to apologise.

“I am truly sorry members of the public were traumatised by a video obtained and shared illegally.

“The meeting called was illegal under the council's own standing orders and they have no recourse to judge, punish or otherwise sanction me.

“The matter has now been referred to the monitoring officer, which was what I’d requested prior to what can only be described as a 19th-century style kangaroo court.

“I have never stated I do not support Ukrainian war victims merely spoken about some failings of the scheme.

“The matter is now in the hands of a legal team and as such I will be making no further comment.”

A spokesperson for the town council has stated the meeting was called for by two councillors and was “perfectly legal”.

The council is also due to release a full statement outlining its position later today (July 4).

Councillor Booth said: “There was a meeting last night to address the contents of a video and the derogatory words used by one of our councillors.

“The meeting was cordial and both side of the argument were heard.

“Hopefully the statement released later today will address how the Town Council feel about the issue. I hope this puts an end to the matter. 

“It was decided that all papers should be passed to the monitoring officer and a further vote was taken to remove the Cllr from committees and working groups."