“This council stinks” should be Ventnor Town Council’s new motto, the former deputy mayor has suggested.
David George made the comment at Monday night’s Ventnor Town Council meeting amid allegations of bullying and censorship within the authority.
Mr George said the council should replace the town’s crest of the Greek goddess of cleanliness and hygiene, Hygeia, with the Latin equivalent of ‘this council stinks’.
Mr George highlighted the council’s decision to pre-approve the clerk’s column every edition before publication — to ensure it was all positive and nothing badly reflected on the council — which some residents had caused a form of censorship.
He also recalled recent allegations a member of the council ‘bullied’ two women, which led to the resignation of the town council’s clerk David Bartlett who was upset the allegations has been ignored.
Formal complaints had been made against the councillor to the Isle of Wight Council but the monitoring officer decided not to act on them.
The meeting was the first held following the resignation of long-serving member James Toogood, who, in his resignation letter, said the bully had made it “unbelievably difficult” in the past two years.
He said the bully had “constantly criticised and tried to block many” of his projects.
Mr Toogood said:
“I give my time and construction advice freely saving the town council money.
"I cannot accept there have been unnecessary extra costs when projects are blocked and delayed.”
He said the town council was now in a position where several councillors found it impossible to be on a working group with the councillor.
Mr Toogood said he had been fortunate to meet and work with great staff and interesting community-minded councillors and it had been very satisfying to help the town with improvements.
He said he loves and lives in the town so he will still do his very best for the residents but it would not be with the town council.
The authority has recently signed a national pledge of civility and respect.
New town mayor, Cllr Steve Cooper, previously said any allegations would be taken seriously but it was a complex area to manage as some may perceive actions as bullying and others don’t.
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