FLAX Bourton Parish Council has been described as 'dysfunctional' - by its own chairman. Currently the parish council only has three members - chairman Caz Hore-Ruthven and councillors Mary Johnson and Alison Crawford. The move to brand the group as 'dysf

FLAX Bourton Parish Council has been described as 'dysfunctional' - by its own chairman.Currently the parish council only has three members - chairman Caz Hore-Ruthven and councillors Mary Johnson and Alison Crawford. The move to brand the group as 'dysfunctional' came after a villager's application to join the council was turned down by Cllrs Johnson and Crawford. Richard Amour had applied to stand as a member, but his application was rejected by the pair.Cllr Johnson said: "I have reasons why I did not approve Mr Armour's application but I do not want to give them. I have been on the parish council for a long time and couldn't bring myself to support him."Mrs Hore-Ruthven said the decision had left the council in a difficult position.She said: " Mr Armour is less than happy with the decision."What sort of message does this put out to people who are thinking of becoming councillors in the village? At the moment with just three councillors including myself, it is virtually impossible to make decisions. No one is going to bother coming forward to stand if this is the reception they get."The council is teetering on the brink of becoming dysfunctional and at the moment it is a sinking ship."The council was left with just three members following the resignation of Peter Bruce, Dr Jane Ogden and Pete Watts earlier this year. But this is not the first time councillors have resigned, with a mass resignation around two years ago when chairman Michael Barnes and other members stood down.Former councillor Tom Wilson was also at the meeting when Mr Armour's application was rejected. He was asked to be quiet by Councillor Hore-Ruthven after making comments which interrupted the meeting. Mrs Hore-Ruthven said she was now looking at ways of resolving the membership issues and taking the council forward.