Terry Jennison was speaking with Free Whitby member Nigel Ward before a meeting of the town council last year.

In the conversation, Coun Jennison tells Mr Ward he would not be able to speak at the meeting.

Coun Jennison has since apologised saying he thought that was the case and called the row as "a fuss over nothing".

Mr Ward, however, has branded the mayor as "rude" and "undemocratic".

The recording – which has only just come to light – was made by Nick Henderson, who claims he had not known he had recorded the pair.

He said: "On 12 November, I attended the Whitby Town Council, full council meeting.

"Arriving early, I repaired to the toilets in search of a little privacy, in order to commit some notes to my dictaphone.

"I paused in my work when I heard the Mayor Terry Jennison enter the vestibule, where he was greeted by Nigel Ward.

"I was shocked by the exchange that followed.

"I now discover that the disgraceful conduct exhibited by the mayor was inadvertently captured by my dictaphone."

Here is a transcript of that exchange.

Nigel Ward: "What a night, Terry."

Terry Jennison: "Waste of time you lads coming out."

NW: "Is that right?"

TJ: "Yeah."

NW: "How is that, then?"

TJ: "You're not allowed to speak tonight."

NW: "Well ... I might have something to say about that."

TJ: "You'll have nothing to say, sunshine."

Mr Henderson added: "Surely this is extremely disrespectful and utterly inappropriate behaviour."

When contacted by the Whitby Gazette Mr Ward denied any knowledge of being recorded.

He said: "It's not simply that the mayor was so rude to me – councillors have been rude to me before, and I survived.

"It's the clear delight in his words and tone he believed he had found a loop-hole to prevent public participation.

"That is utterly undemocratic."

Coun Jennison admitted he had been wrong, and genuinely thought that the public could only speak on matters to be discussed during the meeting.

"I approached Mr Ward later at the meeting and apologised for saying he couldn't speak.

"I was shocked to find someone has recorded me.

"I think it is an attempt to stir up trouble."

He added the town council was likely to discuss the incident at its March meeting and also that someone had made a recording of a town council meeting, which is not allowed under standing orders.

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