The deputy leader of Swindon Borough Council, Russell Holland had to sit silently as he watched a fellow cabinet member ask councillors to reject a proposal made by the authority itself to build more houses.

And he was even told to “consider his position” by a member of his own Conservative group.

Coun Holland was present at the council’s planning committee meeting where a plan submitted by the authority’s own housing company to build four houses on a patch of green land in Sparcells Drive was being considered.

Sitting next to him was Coun Keith Williams, who is the cabinet member for corporate and customer services at Euclid Street.

Speaking as a ward councillor for Shaw Coun Williams urged committee members to reject the application - one made under a flagship council policy - to get the housing company to build more houses for sale, which will raise more money for the council to be spent on its services.

He said: “There are three reasons to refuse this application - the area of green punctuates the houses and breaks up rows of houses - but this development is twice as dense as the rest of the street and is over-development.

“There is a traffic safety problem, there is limited visibility on the road at that part of Sparcells, and cars at these houses will have to park behind each other; it will need a dance of cars in this space to get on the road. The design is also against the character of the area - the houses are right up against the pavement, anyone walking by could knock on the front window.”

Another Shaw councillor, Nick Martin sits on the committee. He was angered by the planning officers report which said the loss of the green space was a disadvantage but was outweighed by “a surplus” and “excess” of green space in the ward.

He said: “What is an adequate supply of green space? How much are we allowed to have in West Swindon? I moved to West Swindon because there’s a lot of green space. It’s one of the good things about the area. This report seems to make any area of public open space in West Swindon vulnerable to development. This seems to be the thin end of the wedge.

Coun Martin then seemed to suggest Coun Holland should resign when he said: “I think the deputy leader of the council should consider his position.”

The plan was rejected by six votes to two.

After the meeting Coun Holland and Coun Martin were in conversation – seemingly amicably enough.

Coun Holland said: "The council will explore all options to raise money, but it is up to the planning committee to decide these matters, and we respect that. Ward members are always free to do what they think is best for their area.

"I've known, and been on good terms with Coun Martin for many years and he's a passionate advocate for his area, and I have great respect for that."