Pete Budd resigned from his position of representing the council's Abbey Ward on Tuesday night – and hit out at his fellow councillors.

The annual meeting had been called to re-elect Steve Smith and Terry Jennison as mayor and deputy mayor respectively and to fill the council's committees for the next 12 months.

Mr Budd submitted his resignation prior to the meeting where it was accepted by Coun Smith.

The moves comes a week after Mr Budd called clerk Eddie Birch "insolent and obstructive" at a full council meeting.

Coun Steve Smith read out Mr Budd's letter of resignations which said he could "see no purpose in a body which opposed free and open debate" and that it was a "waste of public money for no service."

Coun Bob Sigsworth praised Mr Budd's contribution to the council but questioned his actions.

"We all feel like we're banging our heads against a wall with Scarborough Council sometimes but I don't think the attitude should be to resign," he said.

Mayor Steve Smith also thanked Mr Budd for his work for the council.

This was Mr Budd's second spell on the council, having served in 2004 and also the second time he has quit before the end of his term.

He is the second councillor to resign inside a week after Sue Dyson stood down from her post in West Cliff Ward for family reasons.

The positions will now be advertised and if enough interest is received, an election can be called otherwise the council may have to co-opt members.

After Mr Budd's resignation, the meeting went ahead as scheduled with both the mayor and deputy being voted back for another term in office.

Coun Walter Jones said Couns Smith and Jennison were a "strong team" and had the full confidence of the council.