AN EXTRAORDINARY meeting of Portland Town Council will not go-ahead tonight after the town clerk was taken ill.

Mayor of Portland Rob Hughes said he will open and adjourn the meeting at Easton Methodist church hall at 7pm due to the absence of clerk Ian Looker.

Mr Looker has undergone an emergency operation in hospital and is likely to be off for a few weeks. It is expected he will resume his duties sometime in the New Year.

A temporary clerk is expected to be appointed in the next few days so the business of the town council can continue as normal.

Tonight’s meeting was called for councillors to consider the issues raised by the Staffing Review and its recommendations.

One of the recommendations is to increase the council tax precept.

It is expected the EGM will be held in a week’s time.