CONSERVATIVE attempts to install their man as mayor could founder on a requirement that a member of another political group supports their candidate.

Traditionally, the most senior Basingstoke and Deane Borough councillor becomes mayor, but this year deputy mayor Councillor Phil Heath has been blocked by members of the Conservative group, which he was expelled from in 2008. Of the 33 Tory councillors, 26 have backed the next most senior councillor, Conservative Cllr Keith Chapman, to become mayor.

However, no one from any of the other political parties has publicly backed anyone other than Cllr Heath – who is facing four allegations that he has breached the councillors’ code of conduct – to become mayor because they believe tradition should be upheld and claim the Tories are politicising the post.

The lack of support from other parties presents Cllr Chapman (pictured) with a potential problem because when the formal vote is taken at the mayor making meeting in May, the incoming mayor requires at least one of those proposing or seconding him or her to be from a party group other than his or her own.

Now, there have been calls for Cllr Chapman to stand aside and let the mayor be chosen in accordance with tradition.

Independent councillor Martin Biermann said: “My hope is that good sense will prevail and, at the end of the day, any other nominees who come forward will think again and step back and let the process proceed as it has in the past.”

The clause about needing nominators from two political groups is contained in a minute of a council meeting from 1984, which is mentioned in the constitution, and has been brought to light by the borough Labour group.

Labour group leader Cllr Laura James said this demonstrates the position of mayor should be non-political.

She said: “We are not prepared to support a dummy mayor – it would be wrong to do that. This is a matter of principal and we wouldn’t be prepared to support Keith. We have always supported members of different parties but this time we couldn’t do it.

“I really hope no other councillor supports him because doing so would legitimise the process, which is wrong.”

Cllr Heath believes the situation could cause Cllr Chapman, who has been a borough councillor since 1979, a problem unless the Conservatives change the rules. He said: “I think that (the clause) is a sensible way of ensuring we have a non-political mayor.”

Despite the evidence to the contrary, Cllr Chapman is maintaining that he does not require the support of a councillor from another group to become mayor.

He said: “I don’t have to (have this support). It would be nice. I haven’t asked anybody yet so I don’t know what the reaction is going to be. I’m not planning for anything at the moment because it is so uncertain.”

Borough council chief executive Tony Curtis said council officers are working to clarify the situation but will not be able to confirm what will happen at the mayor making ceremony until early April.