CHAIRMAN of Princes Risborough Town Council David Allworth has resigned after the annual town meeting was branded a disgrace and undemocratic.

Cllr Allworth announced the shock decision on Tuesday saying his chairmanship of the meeting "did no credit to this council, the town or myself."

More than 100 people packed the Carrington Room at the Risborough Centre, Stratton Road, last Thursday for the meeting.

Many were there to ask questions about the rise in council tax and the new skate facility in King George V playing fields but they left bitter and angry at having only ten minutes for an open forum at the end of the meeting.

Mr Allworth said at the beginning of the meeting at 8pm that he was aiming to finish by 10pm. When he closed the meeting at that time, there were boos and a cry of "resign" by a resident.

At the annual general meeting of the town council, held on Tuesday, a letter from former councillor John Mason was read out, calling the meeting, "a disgrace" and "undemocratic."

But by then, Mr Allworth had announced his intention not to seek nomination as chairman of the council, after seven years of service, and resigned from the council as well.

In a letter, Mr Allworth said: "I declined to accept nomination for the chair for one simple reason; my chairmanship of the annual town meeting did no credit to this council, the town or myself."

But Mr Allworth defended his term in office, for raising the town's share of the council tax, blaming previous administrations for letting amenities fall into disrepair.

He also attacked Mr Mason, former chairman of the town council's finance committee, for criticising the rise in council tax.

Mr Mason had stood up at the annual town meeting and slammed the 48.9 per cent increase in the precept, from £121,000 to £180,000.

He said: "Since 1996/97, the precept has risen from £85,000 to £180,000, an increase of 112 per cent, a cost which has to be borne in its entirety by the council taxpayers of Princes Risborough."

Mr Mason said an increase was understandable but protested at the £35,000 set aside for a new council building.

A motion in three parts was put forward saying the electors, "deplore the action of the Town Council in setting a precept of £180,000."

It said electors require the council to withdraw plans for building a new meeting room and office for the clerk and investigate other arrangements and require the council to limit its expenditure by £50,000 below budget.

Chairman of the finance committee Ben Benifer said the increase was necessary due to the need for a new council building with access for the disabled as required by law. Also, a major overhaul was needed for street lamps.

The motion was passed by electors but is not binding on the council. An extraordinary council meeting will be held on June 19, at 7.30pm in the Community Centre, for residents to ask questions and for the council to put its position on the skateboard facility and council offices. Councillors agreed to put the £35,000 for a new council building, in reserve.