THE chairman of St Peter’s Parish Council has hit a stumbling block in his bid to change his title to the more gender neutral ‘chair’.

Councillor Alan Tucker, who took over the head position in May, added the item to the agenda for this month’s meeting to help bring the parish council “into the 21st Century”.

He also wants to change the title of his deputy John Kemp to ‘vice-chair’ but the plan was put on hold while clerk Alex Booth consults legislation.

At the meeting, held on July 11, Cllr Tucker’s motion was seconded by Councillor Linda Murray, the only female on the council.

However, previous chairman Councillor Alan Tidy objected to the proposal because he understands it was “ultra vires” as in the title “was set down in statute” by the 1972 Local Government Act.

Speaking after the meeting, he also said the motion was "in fact a change to our standing orders".

As such, the council rules require that such a proposal should appear on the agenda in the name of at least three councillors, he said.

"Unfortunately, the motion in the agenda paper was only in Alan’s name, so was not admissible, but could be re-submitted later in the appropriate manner."

Cllr Tidy said on the basis of these objections, the chairman withdrew his motion and the clerk "undertook to clarify the legal position".

"The matter may return to council once that clarification has been obtained," he added.

Speaking to us yesterday, Cllr Tucker said he wanted to "break down barriers" by making his title more neutral.

He described the legislation, if Cllr Tidy is correct, as "absolutely silly" and intends to take the matter up with Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, MP Robert Jenrick.

"We should be trying everything to try to break barriers down and attract more people to stand for local authorities," he continued. "I can't believe in this day and age we are ruled by all this legislation that was put down in 1972."