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07
Oct
Latest Ripon meeting descends into two-minute shouting match
The latest meeting of Ripon City Council descended into a shouting match last night when a member of the public refused to stop speaking.
During a section on public questions, Stanley Mackintosh began reading a pre-prepared statement that claimed the meeting was “procedurally inept” and should be suspended.
He also said the election of Councillor Barbara Brodigan as mayor following the resignation of Cllr Jackie Crozier “remains open to question”.
Councillor Brodigan told Mr Mackintosh he was not following procedure and repeatedly asked him to stop.
Mr Mackintosh speaking at a recent meeting.
Bemused members of the public looked on as both parties ignored each other and carried on talking in raised voices for over two minutes. At one point, Cllr Pauline McHardy walked over to Mr Mackintosh and urged him to give way.
But he did not do so until he had finished his statement.
When he finally returned to his seat, Cllr Brodigan described his actions as ‘disgraceful” and asked how dare he accuse the council of not following procedure when he himself had not.
‘This council is in crisis’
Mr Mackintosh and others, including Councillor Andrew Williams, had questioned the legality of the meeting in the days leading up to it.
The agenda was published on Wednesday but amended on Thursday, which did not allow the three full working days required by standing orders.
In a statement read at the start of the meeting, Cllr Brodigan said she and the newly appointed locum clerk had “sought clarification from the Yorkshire Local Councils Association on this matter” and been advised that the “meeting remains lawful” but the amended agenda items would not be considered at the meeting.
Cllr Williams, however, said due process was not being followed and asked on whose authority the locum clerk had been appointed when the old staffing committee, which used to make appointments, had been dissolved and the chair of the new human resources committee, which now has responsibility for such matters, had resigned.
Cllr Williams speaking at the meeting.
“If we go down this route there will be no proper minutes and the auditor will take note,” he said.
Cllr Brodigan said everything had gone through the “correct channels” and Cllr McHardy accused Cllr Williams of “trying to obstruct the council from moving on”.
Cllr McHardy said: “I think Councillor Williams has forgotten that this council is actually in crisis. Three members of staff have left and the other one is off sick.”
Last night's meeting
Cllr Crozier resignation
Cllr Brodigan also addressed claims that the resignation of former mayor Cllr Jackie Crozier was unlawful because she had not formally resigned.
I her statement at the start of the meeting she said:
Cllr Crozier submitted her written notice of resignation to deputy mayor Cllr Camplejohn, who was chairing the meeting in accordance with council procedures.
Acting in his official capacity, Cllr Camplejohn formally presented the resignation to full council during the meeting.
Any suggestion that Cllr Crozier's resignation was invalid is both misleading and incorrect. To imply that Cllr Camplejohn acted improperly or fraudulently in fulfilling his statutory duties as chair is wholly unfounded and should be categorically rejected.
These events were conducted in full accordance with the law and established governance procedures.
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