Liberal Democrat Joe White lost his job as chairman of Basildon Council in a key vote.
Mr White has held the position for a year, but was replaced with a Conservative councillor because the Tories now have a clear majority.
All parties praised his work as chairman. Richard Rackham, a Labour councillor for Lee Chapel North, said: "The last municipal year can't be described by anyone as an easy year. The chairmanship was held with a good deal of honesty and integrity."
Conservative council leader Malcolm Buckley told Mr White: "All of us were apprehensive about what was going to go on with this council.
Published Friday, May 16, 2003
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