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09
Sept
Absent Ripon councillor hits back at ‘permanent holiday’ claim as feuding returns
Ripon city councillor Barbara Brodigan has hit back after being censured for missing three meetings in a row.
Cllr Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who was mayor until May, was one of three councillors absent at Monday night’s full city council meeting.
Councillors voted to accept the reasons for the absences of Cllrs Pauline McHardy and Gary Camplejohn but voted 6 to 3 against accepting Cllr Brodigan’s reason.
It was the third consecutive full city council she has missed due to being on holiday.
Cllr Peter Horton, a member of the controlling Independent Putting Ripon Before Party Politics group, remarked “it would appear to be that she is permanently on holiday”.
No formal action will be taken against Cllr Brodigan but the vote, which went on party lines, brought back memories of the bitterness that erupted in September last year when Cllr Brodigan replaced Cllr Jackie Crozier as mayor mid-term.
That proved to be the start of a power struggle that was resolved when the independent group, led by Cllr Andrew Williams, wrestled back control of the city council from Cllr Brodigan’s group late last year.
There was further evidence of lingering ill feeling later in the meeting, when the independent group voted down a proposal by Cllr Brodigan to set up a climate, food and community cohesion working group.
Asked to comment on the attendance vote, Cllr Brodigan said her longer-term record compared favourably with that of Cllr Crozier, and Cllr Camplejohn, who were mayor and deputy mayor until a year ago.
Cllr Crozier is now serving as mayoress to mayor Cllr Williams.
Cllr Brodigan said:
Since the 2025 AGM there have been 23 meetings. My attendance has been 82% compared to 69% for the current lady mayoress and 73% for the previous deputy mayor.
Perhaps those who claim to put residents before party politics should actually do so.
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