Questions have been raised over the conduct of Ryde Mayor Karen Lucioni after she was pictured wearing the town’s Mayoral chain while drinking in a Wetherspoons pub.
A formal complaint has been submitted this week following the incident at Fowlers & Co in Ryde last Saturday afternoon.
It was after attending a fundraising event around the corner at Network Ryde, where she had officially represented Ryde Town Council, that Cllr Lucioni arrived at the Wetherspoons pub.
A witness has told Island Echo that Cllr Lucioni, who was enjoying an alcoholic drink, was encouraged by her friends in the pub to “get it out, get it out”, referring to the Mayoral chain.
It’s said that Cllr Lucioni removed the Ryde Town Council-owned regalia – insured for nearly £2,500 – from her handbag and waved it around before being encouraged to put it on. She then placed the chain around her neck, where it remained long enough to be seen by others in the pub and for a photograph to be taken.
Island Echo has this week asked Cllr Lucioni whether she considers it appropriate to wear the chain while drinking in a pub and whether doing so could reflect negatively upon the office of Mayor of Ryde.
Ryde Town Council has also been approached over the incident but did not answer whether it considers it appropriate for the Mayor to wear the Mayoral chain in a public house while consuming alcohol. It was also asked whether it has any concerns that such conduct could bring the office of Mayor, or Ryde Town Council itself, into disrepute.
The Council did, however, confirm there are no specific rules or policies governing where and when the Mayoral chain may be worn, with the chain entrusted to the Mayor for safekeeping.
Ryde Town Council’s own Code of Conduct states that it can apply where a councillor’s actions would give a reasonable member of the public, knowing all the facts, the impression they were acting as a councillor. It also states that councillors must not bring their role or local authority into disrepute.
The Code says councillors must not misuse council resources and must follow the authority’s requirements when using them. However, it does not specifically prohibit civic regalia from being worn in a public house.
The matter comes amid separate questions over a social media post previously published from Cllr Lucioni’s Facebook account, which was subsequently deleted.
Island Echo was alerted to the post on 14th August after concerns were raised about its coherence.
One person commenting publicly on the post asked: “Are you ok Karen?”
The content of the Facebook post, added to a public group for Ryde residents, related to wildfires.
Cllr Lucioni is the Vice Chair of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority, a senior leadership position within the body responsible for the governance and strategic oversight of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
When contacted by Island Echo this week, Cllr Lucioni verbally suggested that she had “lost her glasses” when questioned about the post. She subsequently said she would respond formally to questions put to her, but no further response had been received at the time of publication.
The Isle of Wight Council is now looking into the formal complaint concerning Cllr Lucioni’s conduct, submitted by Island Echo, against the Members’ Code of Conduct complaints process.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“The Council does not comment on whether a complaint has been received, nor on the details of any alleged complaints as they are handled in accordance with due process.”
Cllr Lucioni has served as Mayor of Ryde since May this year. She has represented Ryde Monktonmead on the Isle of Wight Council since May 2021 and was re-elected to County Hall earlier this year.
At County Hall, Cllr Lucioni currently sits on both the Health and Wellbeing Board and Standards Committee, while also chairing the Environment and Community Protection Committee.
