An Island parish council with a “dreadful reputation” descended into a shouting match last night (Tuesday) over the recent resignation of its clerk.
Towards the end of Shalfleet Parish Council’s (SPC) extended, fractious meeting, tensions reached fever pitch as discussion moved onto Tina Bailey’s departure from office last month.
The last item on the Extraordinary Meeting’s agenda involved agreeing to ‘recruit a new clerk’, following guidelines from the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Good Councillor’s Guide to Employment’.
Ms Bailey left her position amid a row with councillors Steve and Thomas Cowley who said she was ‘illegitimately’ in the job.
The former clerk cited the Cowleys’ conduct and a ‘toxic unworkable environment’ as reasons for the exit.
Councillor Chris Beane said:
“We’ve seen two clerks who have resigned feeling stressed, bullied and unable to continue.
“There are two distinct problems with hiring a new clerk. First of all, this council has such a dreadful reputation as an employer, the chance of getting someone to apply is very difficult.
“The second thing – I think it places us under distinct legal and financial risks employing a third clerk before we have addressed the issues.”
Cllr Beane said the council was “not at the stage” where it could “possibly consider hiring a new clerk” and was “in effect suspended”.
Referring to the Cowleys, Cllr Jonathan Hill said it was “morally impossible” to “even consider employing someone to put in front of you two”.
He said:
“I have seen you behave the way you have done. I have seen you shout at clerks. I have seen you shout at members of the public.”
Cllr Steve Cowley hit back:
“There is an agreement between NALC and the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC) which specifically says it is important to recognise that bullying does not include appropriate criticism of employees’ behaviour.
“Fair feedback…is not bullying.”
Cllr Hill said:
“Yours is bullying, and coercive behaviour. You bully everybody”.
Cllr Thomas Cowley described the bullying accusations as “hearsay” with “nothing substantiated”.
The authority ultimately voted against hiring a new clerk.
Parishioner Marcus Gilbert attended SPC for the first time yesterday evening.
Speaking after the meeting he told the press:
“Shambolic – I felt that the chair (Cllr Steve Cowley) wasn’t doing his role and in my understanding, the chair should be there to allow all elected councillors to have their opinion heard and said which wasn’t happening.”
Cllr Steve Cowley said today:
“Democracy can be a messy business some times. I have always been open and transparent and tried to ensure that local residents can come and be heard.”
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