A SUSPECTED U-turn by Newlyn's controversial port authority was halted when a much-anticipated public meeting was called off at the last minute.
The board had been asked to quash the disputed secret ballot taken a month ago to evict three of the commissioners from their posts: John Lambourn, Nick Howell and Juliet Taylor.
No official reason has been given for the trio's sacking and now the harbour commission appears to be on the verge of reversing its decision.
Local representatives, who had been due to attend the monthly session on Wednesday morning, were informed on Tuesday afternoon that it was cancelled. The reason for the eleventh-hour postponement was "to allow further advice to be received by the commission".
Chairman Gilbert McCabe was tight-lipped about why the board needed more advice, but The Cornishman understands it follows further revelations about the legality of the meetings held on May 31 and June 1.
One item that had been up for discussion was the cancellation of the outcomes on those two dates. It read: "The Board of Commissioners is asked to approve that the decisions taken at the board meetings held on May 31 and June 1, 2001 be rescinded."
It seems that two of the commissioners evicted in a secret ballot on that date – John Lambourn and Nick Howell – have already been reinstated.
Mr Howell told The Cornishman the first he heard of the reversal was when he received the agenda for the meeting, with his name listed among the board members.
Also reappearing on the list of harbour commissioners was Ray Tovey, who had stepped down as vice-chairman at the last meeting on June 1.
Among other items on the agenda was the formal reappointment for the next three years of commissioners Kevin Bennetts and Elizabeth Stevenson after their 12-month terms expired.
Juliet Taylor, who has also completed an initial year-long spell, confirmed yesterday that she would also be seeking reappointment.
"On May 3 when I wrote that I would continue to be a harbour commissioner, Gilbert McCabe accepted and thanked me for my commitment leading the asset committee," she said.
Mr Lambourn said he was disappointed that the public had not had a chance to voice their concerns to the commission yesterday.
"A lot of people had anticipated coming to hear what is going on," he said outside the centre in Newlyn, where the meeting was due to be held. They want to know what is going on because it looks shambolic."
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