‘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 that a member of the Council ‘bullied’ 2 women, which led to the resignation of the Town Council’s clerk David Bartlett who was upset the allegations had 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 1st 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 2 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, Councillor 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.
Should a developer even have been on the Town Council. As for Steve Coopers comment “some may perceive actions as bullying and others don’t.” If a person feels bullied, then it should be investigated, obviously Mr Cooper doesn’t agree. Still corrupt as ever, but then again county hall is the same.
Leaving personalities out of this argument, I was also upset by Steve Coopers comments.. If they were discussing sexual assault the argument goes out of the window, the same with theft, Assault, and even murder. In todays world we see many instances of comments made, being taken at face value in spite of the fact that this was not the intended interpretation. I honestly do not know what message was intended but replace the word ‘bullying’ with ANY offence and the sentence becomes hurtful and disrespectful, not something I would expect from Mr Cllr Cooper and also not something I have heard uttered from him at any time.
There a numerous things that can be classed as bullying. If someone considers themselves to be the victim of bullying then the person that they have gone to should look into it thoroughly and speak to both parties, individually and together. I get, to a point, what Mr Cooper means – one mans banter is another mans bullying but in this day and age there are guidelines that everyone should follow with the victim appeased that everything that could be done, has been done, and the alleged bully open to understanding how they have made that person feel.
Bullying is not acceptable in any way shape or form.
Just agree that any form of bullying or inappropriate behaviour is unacceptable and needs to be investigated. There is no argument about this