Accusations of 'spying and bullying of staff' and a 'shameless power grab' by the mayor and other councillors at explosive meeting of Skipton Town Council

Councillors Darren Shaw and Richard Judge called the vote against their former party colleague, accusing him of causing 'disharmony' on the council and demanding he resign as leader and as chairman of the finance and policy committee.

At the extraordinary meeting - held physically, with strict measures in place, but against the guidance of the National Association of Local Councils, and with one member leaving after saying she was not prepared to risk the health of attendees, the entire staff - including the chief officer, Dave Parker, came out in support of Cllr Heseltine.

In statements read out at the meeting, they claimed Cllr Heseltine was not responsible for any disharmony, while one former staff member accused the mayor, Cllr Peter Madeley, and a small number of councillors of a 'shameless power grab'.

Staff said the council had reached a 'new low' and claimed a 'small number of councillors' of destroying a 'dedicated and motivated staff team', and of potentially causing 'long term damage' to the council.

Cllr Madeley, chairman of the coronavirus emergency committee, wearing a mask, like everyone else, responded angrily to some of the accusations, telling a staff member he ought not 'cast aspersions' based on things he did not know.

He said he had wanted a 'face to face' meeting, that it was being held legally, and that he was not interested in being leader of the council. He added he had a difficult job to do and had only been seeking to advise and to help fellow councillors, after they had come to him with their concerns, most, but not all of which, were unfounded.

Cllr Shaw's original motion stated that: "Because of the lack of transparency, inclusion and respect being shown to colleague councillors and staff, there is a need for this council to bring about change that can restore public confidence and a sound administration. This can only be achieved by the removal from office of the councillor responsible for the current disharmony."

The motion also called for Cllr Heseltine to stand down immediately from his role as leader and as chairman of the finance and policy committee and for a 'fresh election' to take place.

Cllr Shaw amended the motion, saying he had made a mistake to include the words 'and staff', and so removed them.

Cllr Madeley also said the motion had been 'badly worded' and that it was not true that Cllr Heseltine had caused disharmony amongst staff.

The amended motion was then voted through by six votes to five, with two abstentions, including the mayor, Cllr Madeley.

Following the vote, staff members left the room, telling councillors they 'ought to be ashamed of themselves'.

Earlier, Trevor Burton, reading a statement on behalf of the nine members of staff, said while staff recognised it was not normally a matter for officers, it was felt that the meeting was a 'new low for Skipton Town Council'.

"The motion, should it succeed, would be a shameful misrepresentation of the situation that has existed within the council for at least the last six months," he said.

"During this time, staff have remained professional and have continued to do their best in very trying circumstances whilst at the same time have seen colleagues undermined, their physical and mental health suffering. This latest development is the final straw, and staff can no longer remain silent."

Mr Burton, speaking for all staff, said they would like councillors Shaw and Judge to explain why they believed Cllr Heseltine was responsible for the disharmony, saying it was not him, but a 'small group of councillors'.

"Over recent months, multiple staff members have been subject to a string of unfair allegations, intimidation, spying and bullying from that small group of councillors," he said.

"There has also been some unbelievable breaches of confidentiality and council procedures by that group of councillors and unfortunately by the current mayor.

"This has both directly and indirectly led to the resignation from the council of two valued staff members and there are a number of employment tribunal claims and grievances which are yet to be resolved.

"We fear the council will lose other staff and possibly councillors as it is clear that this small group will not stop their vile campaign. Morale amongst staff has never been lower, anger and frustration has never been higher."

He also read a statement from the council's former estate manager, Joel Henderson, who claimed he had come under 'some particularly nasty treatment' which had left him with no other choice but to pursue a case of constructive dismissal.

Mr Henderson also disagreed that Cllr Heseltine was responsible for any rupture between staff and councillors, who he said had 'done everything in his power to keep the relationship together'.

"Robert is a victim of a ruthless campaign to smear his good character and I like my fellow staff/officers will not stand idly by while the mayor and his cronies destroy years of selfless dedication to his community by Robert. It is an utter disgrace that they feel they can smear Robert in this way.

"I hope that councillors will see the real source of discord and exonerate Robert. If there is to be any vote of no confidence, it should be against the mayor for his handling of a phony investigation instigated by himself and his underlings which has resulted in the current crisis."

Cllr Shaw told the meeting he and Cllr Judge had been invited to stand for the council by Cllr Heseltine and had felt proud to represent residents, but that they had become disillusioned with Cllr Heseltine's Independent and Respecting our Skipton party.

They wanted to see a forward thinking, progressive and transparent council, fit for the 21st century, he said, and not one that seemingly operated under 'smoke and mirrors'.

"This council needs to move away from the 'old boys' club' and come into the 21st century, we need to become more open and more transparent. We need to become more democratic and forward thinking," he said.

Cllr John Dawson asked why the council was debating the issue when it should be concentrating on rebuilding Skipton post the coronavirus epidemic.

And, there were two things he was certain of that Cllr Heseltine loved Skipton and was not responsible for the disharmony, but that councillors Shaw and Judge were.

"It is their conduct and lack of common decency to staff and colleagues that has caused the disharmony. They have caused two good members of staff to resign and have caused the current low staff morale.

"They have already cost Skipton tax payers thousands of pounds."

Cllr Dawson asked for the proposers of the motion to withdraw it and asked them to consider whether they were 'really fit' to serve the people of Skipton.

Cllr Tony Barrett asked why the motion had been brought at such a time with such urgency when the leader had not been leader for five months, since the formation of the emergency committee, chaired by Cllr Madeley.

He also denied that the council was not transparent and said problems had arisen with the arrival of new councillors last year who had come onto the council with good ideas, but who had 'lacked training and understanding'.

"Rather than accepting that things have to be done in a certain way, they seem to think by colluding together and shooting from the hip, they can get things done, but that way, they will get nothing done."

He told Cllr Shaw and Cllr Judge: "All you will do is destroy the council. The council is under an existential threat. When I started at the council in 2018, the staff were fizzing with ideas, everyone was talking to each other and there was a real can do attitude. Now, we have lost the finance officer and the estate officer and will lose others. There are things pending that will cost this council even more and it has been done by you."

He also blamed Cllr Madeley for giving the councillors information that they had used in the wrong way.

In his defence, Cllr Madeley said as mayor he had to 'look at all sides' and that not everyone would agree with the way he did things.

"Since I have been on the council, there have been quite a few things that have opened my eyes," he said.

He said he had listened to allegations, some had been 'serious' while most were unfounded and that they had been forwarded for investigation, the conclusion of which had not yet happened.

He added that in no way did he want to lead the council, and had not even wanted to be mayor.

"I will not be leader, this is a town council this is not Westminster," he said.

Cllr Heseltine, in response to Cllr Shaw quoted the Latin 'Et tu, Brute', from the Shakespeare play spoken by the Roman dictator Julius Caesar at the moment of his assassination by his friend, Marcus Brutus.

After the meeting, Cllr Heseltine said: "The most unfortunate aspect of this unedifying debacle is that the parish of Skipton Town Council tax payers are the local people who are obliged to pay for the mounting, very substantial costs of the current, prolonged investigations, in industrial tribunals and severance payments.

As if we do not have enough to challenge us with the Covid- 19 pandemic and its disastrous effects on our lives and the economy.

It has been suggested that in future, I should take greater care in whom I help and put my faith in."

A vote of no confidence is not binding on the council or any councillor.

The chairman of a committee cannot be removed from office prior to the annual meeting unless the committee itself is entirely abolished by the council.

The subject of a vote of no confidence may resign, but they are not obligated to do so.