Electioneering, hypocrisy and childishness were just some of the allegations slung in City Hall on Monday as councillors butted heads over an increase to Local Property Tax (LPT).

Rumours of bitter rows behind closed doors, within parties and outside of them, appeared to be well-founded as party colleagues voted against each other and unlikely political alliances were formed in response to ‘smart arse comments’ from the Chief Executive.

The first sign of discontent on Monday was when a move to go straight to a vote by the Mayor, Cllr Peter Keane, was scuppered by his Fianna Fáil party colleague, Cllr John Connolly, who declared, “I’m anxious to debate this” – and debate, they did.

It was an hour-and-a-half later when a vote was finally taken and it became clear that not only was the ruling pact divided, but so too were the parties.

Only the Mayor from Fianna Fáil backed the 15% increase – with Councillors Connolly, Alan Cheevers and Josie Forde all going against it.

There were divisions, too, in Fine Gael, as Councillors Frank Fahy and Eddie Hoare supported the proposal, while Councillors Clodagh Higgins and Shane Forde opposed it.

Cllr Níall McNelis was the only member of the Labour trio to back the increase as Councillors John McDonagh and Helen Ogbu voted it down.

It was Cllr Donal Lyons’ (Ind) observation that those planning to run in the General Election that brought raised voices to the debate.

“It’s amazing how three of those against the LPT are presumably candidates in the General Election,” he said, referring to Cllrs Connolly, Higgins and Mike Cubbard (Ind).

Cllr Connolly was quick to point out that Cllr Lyons had opposed an LPT increase 12 months previously, ahead of the Local Election, and had “proposed a roll-call vote” to ensure everyone knew he voted against it.

Cllr Cubbard said the City West councillor was “being smart” and recalled how former Green Party councillor, Niall Murphy, proposed an increase last year and “you laughed him out the door”.

Newcomer Cllr Shane Forde showed no newbie nerves as he accused those supporting the increase of “punishing people”, drawing the ire of Mayor Keane who said nobody wanted to punish people and warned him to “be careful what you’re saying”.

That would be the first of two occasions when Cllr Forde nearly got the nose taken off him as the normally mild-mannered nearly new Chief Executive, Leonard Cleary, bared his teeth.

The Clare man who took up the reins at City Hall earlier this year has been in the habit of thanking councillors for their questions.

There was no ‘thank you’ when he responded to a question from Cllr Forde about the new community hub in Ballybane.

“I’d like to see us put on an after-school club or have a homework club set up. It’s an impoverished area and it needs our help,” said Cllr Forde as he paid tribute to community activist Donal Lynch for his work in the area.

Responding, Mr Cleary said he was “perplexed” by Cllr Forde who had voted against the LPT proposal – part of which was to provide €47,350 annually for community centres.

“We devoted [the] 1pm meeting to providing additional resources to community centres and you voted against it – and you’re asking me at 3.30pm to provide additional services,” said Mr Cleary to a roar back from Cllr Forde that he could “give it and take it”.

A number of councillors sprung to Cllr Forde’s defence, including Cllr Cubbard and Sinn Féin Councillor, Aisling Burke, who asked if those who voted against the increase were going to be met with a similar response every time they pointed out an area that required funding.

“I think it’s very childlike to come back like that,” she said as she demanded clarification from Mr Cleary on what he meant.

Mr Cleary said he was entitled to express his “frustration” and “I’ve done so”.