A by-election will be held after a mass walk-out at Crieff Community Council.
The sudden departure of chairman Stephen Leckie has triggered an exodus from the watchdog group.
The Crieff Hydro boss resigned after five years at the helm to concentrate on his growing businesses.
He stood down just two weeks after the group secretary Jean Ann Scott Miller resigned amid controversy over a leaked email, which appeared to show her criticising a member of the public.
The Courier revealed last week that Mr Leckie was followed out the door by four others – Andrew Snowball, Chris Mackintosh, Graham Donaldson and David McNaughton.
Now vice-chairman Angus MacDonald and another member Sheilanne Smith have announced their resignations.
This leaves the group with just five members left. Perth and Kinross Council has confirmed that because the membership has fallen to less than half, a by-election will be called. A date and further details have yet to be announced.
In a joint statement, the six community councillors who resigned after Mr Leckie and Mrs Scott Miller highlighted the reasons for the “unprecedented” walk-out.
“We support Stephen Leckie in his decision to bring forward his planned retirement as chairman,” the members said. “During his term of office he has brought energy, enthusiasm and strong leadership to the community council and has worked tirelessly to promote its role as a proactive as well as reactive body.”
The members have stressed they also support Mrs Scott Miller. They said her early retirement was “triggered by a sustained campaign, conducted over several months and designed to undermine both her official role and her personal integrity.”
The statement continues: “The departure of these key office-bearers in these circumstances leaves us with no alternative but to add our resignation to theirs.
“We respect the decision of our five former colleagues to remain in office. Some of them have served as community councillors for many years and will bring that experience to rebuilding a body which must continue to play a key role in Crieff and in ensuring that Crieff’s voice is heard.”
Community councillor Craig Finlay said: “Those of us remaining will now work to put the disruptive issues of the past few weeks behind us and continue to focus on growing the good work we have been cultivating over recent years, for the benefit of all of Crieff.”
He added: “It’s important we have a team of community councillors who join for the right reasons – to make life better for others – and, to this end, I would encourage anyone with that interest to become involved.”
