An Isle of Wight town council clerk has resigned — after 13 years in the job — as he says allegations of bullying have been ‘ignored’ for more than six months.
It is alleged two women, one of them not a member of Ventnor Town Council (VTC), had been bullied by a still-serving councillor.
David Bartlett said in his resignation letter to the Mayor, Steph Toogood, it was an incredible privilege to work for the ‘remarkable’ town but he could no longer work for a council that has, and still does, ignore the bullying allegations.
Formal complaints against the councillor had been raised with the Isle of Wight Council’s monitoring officer — who ensures councillors maintain the highest standards — but he decided not to act on them, it was said in the recent town council meeting.
At the meeting, the matter was brought to light by former deputy mayor, David George, who had seen a copy of Mr Bartlett’s resignation letter.
He said:
“I think something very unpleasant has happened in this council, someone stands accused of bullying two women and they remain a councillor.
“This issue casts a long shadow while it remains unresolved … this is a serious democratic issue if you are allowing this to continue.”
Mayor Toogood responded by saying the monitoring officer has said it was ‘fiscally unviable’ to look into the complaints but in the way the system worked there was not really a way of resolving it.
The complaints had not been withdrawn, she said and they have to work to make things more harmonious.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Steve Cooper, chair of VTC’s HR Committee, said they would take any bullying allegations seriously, but it is a complex area to manage as some may perceive actions as bullying, and others don’t.
He said nothing nasty has occurred other than ‘the normal issues an organisation inevitably encounters when dealing and interacting with others’.
Cllr Cooper said VTC had taken steps to address the issue, personally speaking with each councillor about how behaviour can be misinterpreted.
He said bullying, intimidation, undermining or belittling would not be tolerated at VTC as long as he was a serving member.
The town council unanimously agreed to sign the National Association of Local Council’s Civility and Respect pledge.
Mr Bartlett and Mayor Toogood declined to comment further.
The Isle of Wight Council was contacted on April 19 regarding the monitoring officer’s involvement, but no statement or clarification has been issued.
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