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20
Oct
Vital votes hang in the balance as crisis-hit Ripon City Council meets again tonight
This evening, (Monday October 20) crisis-hit Ripon City Council will hold another extraordinary meeting as it urgently seeks to appoint a permanent chief officer/responsible finance officer.
The £57,000 per annum job became available with the departure of Paula Benson, who served as town clerk and then chief officer for a total of nine years.
Before the position can be filled, the ruling group of five non-aligned councillors led by Liberal Democrat city mayor and chair Barbara Brodigan must appoint a chair for the newly-created human resources committee.
If that vote is carried, members will be asked to appoint Adam Chugg as temporary town clerk and make him a bank signatory, so that the council can pay its employees and suppliers as well as conduct the daily operation of the council.
Mr Chugg, who last October was appointed clerk, responsible financial officer and proper officer at Whitby Town Council, resigned at short notice in August, after less than a year in post.
Prior to Whitby, he was clerk at Sleaford Town Council from December 2020 until August 2024.
Mr Chugg's Linked-In profile says he is 'open to job opportunities'.
According to the agenda for this evening's meeting, Mr Chugg's appoinment as locum clerk and bank signatory may be considered in private session.
Councillors will vote on whether to exclude the press and public from this part of the meeting on the grounds that it 'involves the likely disclosure of exempt information'.
Ripon City Council in disarray
Power struggle
Ripon City Council is divided into two camps.
Prior to Friday, the group made up of councillors Brodigan, Tony Duncan, Chris Hardisty, Sid Hawke, Julie-Anne Martin-Long and Pauline McHardy held sway with six of the 11 seats occupied.
But the Stray Ferret revealed Cllr Hawke had decided to tender his resignation at tonight's meeting.
It means the ruling group now has the same number of seats as the opposing group made up of councillors Gary Camplejohn, Jackie Crozier, Stuart Flatley, Peter Horton and Andrew Williams.
If all attend, the casting vote of mayor and chair Cllr Brodigan could prove decisive.
With by-elections pending for the seats previously held by Sid Hawke and Jo Bate, the balance of power could change again.
Councillor Hawke, who voted for his deputy Cllr Crozier to succeed him as mayor, is pictured with her as they entered Ripon Cathedral on May 6 for the installation service.
Vote of no confidence looms
Cllr Brodigan will be in the hot seat this evening's meeting
After tonight, Cllr Brodigan will face a public vote of no confidence at a parish meeting at Holy Trinity Church on November 3.
The outcome of the meeting will determine if Ripon voters want a parish poll, to indicate if they have confidence in her as mayor.
The poll is likely to cost Ripon council taxpayers between £5,000 and £7,000 and would not be legally binding.
Ripon resident Sandra Craven handed in a motion for a vote of no confidence in Councillor Barbara Brodigan to Ripon City Council on September 25 after the motion received 30 signatures.
An open letter has been sent to Cllr Brodigan urging her and her deputy, Cllr Julie Ann Martin-Long, to resign before the parish meeting takes place.
It says there is strong public feeling about the events that led to Cllr Jackie Crozier stepping down after fellow councillors brought a vote of no confidence against her.
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