Rebel councillor back in the fold (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Rebel councillor back in the fold

11:00am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in News By Simon Moss

A REBEL Basingstoke and Deane Borough Conservative councillor has been reinstated by party bosses following her three-month suspension for siding with the opposition over the controversial Manydown issue.

Councillor Onnalee Cubitt, who represents the Basing ward, was suspended by Conservative group leader Cllr Robert Donnell in October after supporting a Labour motion that called into question the integrity of the council’s future development plans.

Cllr Cubitt was particularly unhappy at the Conservative-run administration’s decision to omit the 820-hectare Manydown land from consideration, especially as hundreds of new homes are being proposed around the village of Old Basing.

She won widespread praise for standing up for her ward at the expense of party loyalties. Her suspension ended last week at a private meeting, when she was invited back into the group.

Following her reinstatement, Cllr Cubitt released a statement which said: “I am pleased to continue to work as a member of the Conservative group to represent the Basing ward and to improve the whole borough. I shall continue to fight for what is positively best for Basingstoke.”

Cllr Donnell commented: “Cllr Cubitt is a talented councillor and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her to improve Basingstoke and Deane for all residents.

“The Conservatives have delivered low taxes and better services and Cllr Cubitt has been an important part of that. She will continue to be an important team member as we move forward to deliver even more improvements in Basingstoke.”

Cllr Cubitt’s fellow ward member in Basing, Cllr Sven Godesen, was stripped of his role as vice-chairman of the council’s development control committee by Cllr Donnell at the end of last year after he also voted against the administration during the Manydown debate.

Asked whether Conservative councillors should fear voting against the party, Cllr Donnell said: “We will continue to work for each individual ward, and that will deliver what is best for the borough.”