Tories in Southend have expressed concerns about Lib Dem council leader Graham Longley being the town's deputy mayor this year.

Conservative group leader Charles Latham said it was "inappropriate" for the council leader to be deputy mayor.

However, Mr Longley said the argument "didn't hold water" and pledged to divorce his political leadership from his role as deputy mayor.

The criticism came after councillors elected the chairman and vice-chairman of the council's relevant committees.

Mr Latham, councillor for Chalkwell, said: "I have to say on behalf of our group, we don't consider it appropriate for the leader to be deputy mayor.

"We are surprised that the administration couldn't find anybody else who was prepared to do the job of leader.

"It's the first time for a long time that anyone can remember leader as deputy mayor.

"We're worried because there's a certain responsibility which goes with the job of deputy mayor to be non-political in the same way as the mayor has to be.

"Then to be leader at the same time does seem slightly strange."

However, Mr Latham said it was a totally different situation when deputy council leader Chris Dandridge acted as deputy mayor last year.

Mr Longley, leader of the council since 1994, said: "At the meeting there were no difficulties at. Nobody got up and said anything.

"Are the Conservatives saying deputy leader isn't a political post? Their argument doesn't hold water. If we are talking about setting a precedent, then there's one to start with.

"However, I will ensure that at all times the deputy mayoralty will not be compromised with the job of leader and there will be a clear distinction."

New chairmen

Policy committee:

Chairman Graham Longley

Vice-chairman Chris Dandridge

Conservative spokesman Charles Latham

Education and libraries committee:

Chairman Mary Lubel

Vice-chairman Roger Crisp

Conservative spokesman Sally Carr

Housing and environmental services committee:

Chairman Reg Copley

Vice-chairman Peter Wexham

Conservative spokesman

Ann Holland

Leisure services committee:

Chairman David Elf

Vice-chairman Howard Gibeon

Conservative spokesman David Ascroft

Planning and transportation committee:

Chairman Jean Sibley

Vice-chairman Chris Mallam

Conservative spokesman

Roger Weaver

Social services committee:

Chairman Chris Dandridge

Cice-chairman Nigel Baker

Conservative spokesman

Howard Briggs

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.