OTLEY'S mayor elect Councillor Nigel Francis is to face a vote of no confidence.

Coun Francis, who continues to be heavily criticised for his failure to turn up to his own Mayor-Making ceremony earlier this month, plans to formally accept office on Monday.

The scaled down ceremony is due to take place ahead of a special meeting called by opposition councillors.

Labour leader Councillor John Eveleigh said all six Labour councillors are seeking a vote of no confidence in Coun Francis.

If the vote is successful, it will mean deputy mayor, Coun Jonathan Kirkland, a Liberal Democrat, is made mayor.

Coun Eveleigh said: "As far as I am aware it is unprecedented for a mayor not to turn up to his own mayor-making ceremony and what is amazing is he has not even had the good grace to put his hands up and apologise.

"This is not a political issue, whoever had done it we would be doing the same thing."

But Coun Francis said he had not meant any disrespect to the town.

"I just think it is pathetic that they are acting this way. I don't feel that people in the town think I've let them down, people who know the situation understand it was not meant as a slur on the town."

Coun Francis was forced to miss the annual meeting of the town council, when the mayor accepts office, because he had arranged a holiday for his wife, Diane, and four year old son.

He said there had been no guarantee he was going to be mayor this year but as soon as he had realised the date of the meeting he had tried to get it re-arranged.

"I just find it all so petty that everything has to be so political, I would never stoop to that level myself. I've always tried to be non-political and if I'm mayor I shall work for the benefit of the town."

Meanwhile, Coun Francis believes he could make the Guinness Book of Records on Monday for being mayor for the shortest amount of time.

"I'm down to take the declaration at 7.30pm and then have a full meeting at 8pm where the first item will be a vote of no confidence in the mayor. It could go down in the Guinness Book of Records."

His brother, Coun Gerard Francis, will stay on as mayor until Monday.

The council is made up of six Labour coun-cillors, six Liberal Democrat councillors, two Conservatives and Independent, Coun Nigel Francis.

In order for the vote of no confidence to be successful, the Labour councillors will have to get the support of both of the Conservatives.