Ledbury Town Council 16 April 2015

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• published: 17 Apr 2015
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Resignation speech of ex-councillor Richard Hadley shouted down by mayor and councillors ending up with police being called. This, for anyone vaguely interested, is what I said... (press 'Show More') Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m speaking to you from the cheap seats tonight – as a member of the public. As you probably know, I’ve resigned from the Town Council. There is little point in my remaining part of the Council until 7 May - and so giving my implied approval to this administration which I find in so many ways disturbing and reprehensible. There are too many instances of arrogant and perverse behaviour by longstanding councillors to list here. All I can say is this that stale culture stifles progress and snuffs out precious energy and enthusiasm. A small tragedy perhaps. However, it is the behaviour in particular of this Mayor, and of a junior clerical officer of Ledbury Town Council, in widely circulating a malicious and defamatory allegation about me, quite without substance, that I have found so contemptible. That these two people – a salaried officer and an elected member, the town mayor no less - appear to have colluded, in an effort to discredit me, is appalling. To quote Bob Barnes himself: it is a stain on his tenure as Mayor. Connected with this is the matter of the ‘additional’ payment of £7 thousand to the Foxley Tagg Partnership which has been the subject of so much concern of late. People have shrugged it off as a small matter – it is not. This was an unauthorised payment, outside of financial regulations, and paid retrospectively. I have asked repeatedly for clarification firstly from the Mayor and chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan, and received none, and then from the Clerk, and received none. In all, this period of stonewalling and prevarication occupied about six weeks, an untold waste of time and energy. In trying to extricate themselves from blame, it appears that persons involved, have made misleading statements to Council and to the Council’s independent auditor, claiming that authorisation had been granted at a committee meeting – when in fact no such discussion nor authorisation had taken place. So, what started as a relatively minor, albeit legitimate issue of scrutiny, looks to have developed into a conspiracy, involving concealment of the facts and the propagation of falsehoods in efforts to deflect attention from the difficult situation of those in error. These shortcomings are as serious as it gets for a town council like ours. I have tried, as you well know, to work through the proper channels to have these and other serious concerns investigated and resolved but I have failed. In short, I believe that some elected members of Ledbury Town Council have behaved in an irresponsible, incompetent, and dishonourable manner. I do not wish my name to be associated with them. With the coming election I hope that a strong light might be shone on their antics, so that voters can make a positive choice for the kind of council they wish to see in our town. This affair is not about me – but about you, about Ledbury Town Council. If you cherish honesty, fair play and decency you might also wish to register your feelings about this wretched state of affairs, and join me in turning your back on this Council too.