An Eaton Wick councillor has made a desperate appeal to David Cameron after claims his fellow Tory councillors are trying to unseat him. Councillor Stephen Smith emailed the Tory leader for support after he allegedly discovered a recording of a council advisor plotting to remove him.

Basildon councillor John Dornan claims he will “continue to speak up” after being cleared of allegations of bullying and intimidation during a planning meeting. Dornan was claimed to have made “repeated offensive derogatory comments” by the council’s solicitor.

West Dorset district council is donating £70,000 to five local youth advice centres. InSparations in Lyme Regis, Rendezvous in Sherborne, The Mill in Bridport, and Routes in Dorchester will each recieve £8,700 over two years. Dorchester Arts will receive a substantial £35,982 towards the improvement of arts in the community.

Epping Forest Youth Council will hold a debate on lowering the voting age to 16 when it meets today. Young people will also have the chance to put questions to two of the three MPs for the district — Eleanor Laing, Bill Rammel and Epping Forest council chairman Penny Smith. The debate will take place from 11.15 and will be broadcast live online.