A Newport and Carisbrooke community councillor has accused her local authority of being a ‘modern-day rotten borough’.
Breaking ranks after the resignation of clerk Joshua Tombleson last week, Councillor Louise Rippon denounced a leadership culture within Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council (NCCC) as having become ‘unsafe, unkind and unethical’.
Cllr Rippon claimed that NCCC is a place where ‘bullying and toxic culture is dressed up as free speech’ and expressed concerns over staff welfare.
But a joint statement from 5 NCCC committee chairs, including council chair Vix Lowthion and former vice-chair Julie Jones-Evans, says the confidentiality, dignity and wellbeing of the council’s employees is taken extremely seriously.
Cllr Jones-Evans resigned earlier this month, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Cllr Rippon told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she had witnessed staff who have felt ‘unsafe’ and been ‘ignored, diminished or pushed to breaking point’.
She said:
“For months, I have spoken up, sometimes softly, sometimes loudly, about a leadership culture within NCCC that has become unsafe, unkind and unethical, far from what public service is meant to be.
Article continues below this advertisement “At the centre of this has been the leadership style of the chair, supported by the vice-chair (who has now resigned).
“A style where process becomes optional, transparency becomes an inconvenience and those who speak up are treated as the problem rather than the warning bell.
“I have described this council as a modern-day rotten borough because that is what it has felt like.
“A place where a small group controls information, steers outcomes, rewrites process mid-flight and closes ranks when questioned.”
She said several councillors have submitted a motion for a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the chair and in normal circumstances, this would be debated ‘openly, fairly and without delay’. But Cllr Rippon claims the chair has refused to act on it.
Cllr Rippon is calling for transparency, accountability and cultural change.
NCCC disputes the claim that several councillors signed a motion, and said it was just 2.
The statement from the NCCC committee chairs says it would not be appropriate to comment on individual allegations or personal staff experiences.
It says:
“We take confidentiality, dignity and the wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously.
“The council continues to ensure that appropriate meetings are convened in line with legislation and its Standing Orders, including those requested by councillors.
“Our priority remains the same: to support our staff, uphold good governance, and maintain a safe, respectful and transparent environment for everyone who works with or serves the council.
“We ask for patience while the appropriate processes are followed and independent advice concludes.”
Given that in her opinion only her version of anything must be the only correct one, an arrogant self important nasty piece of work and evans is not much better.
I’d say you are right. She is not known as ‘Loathsome’ for nothing. If she refuses to allow the discussion on a non confidence vote, then all the sitting councillors should refuse to work with her.