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13
Nov
Fraud claim Ripon councillor’s fate could be decided next week
The fate of a Ripon city councillor who accused a colleague of fraud looks set to be decided next week.
Cllr Sid Hawke reported the mayor, Cllr Barbara Brodigan, to North Yorkshire Police for supplying an allegedly fraudulent resignation letter to locum clerk Adam Chugg.
But the force said in a statement last week there was “no evidence to support a criminal offence” and no further action would be taken.
Cllr Brodigan described the allegations as “false and defamatory” and after the police verdict said Cllr Hawke “probably will receive a letter from my solicitor”.
She added she still believed former mayor Cllr Hawke had “verbally resigned”. However, he attended Monday’s monthly full council meeting.
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Chugg whether any action was being taken.
Mr Chugg replied yesterday:
Ripon City Council have sought – and now received — confidential legal advice from National Association of Local Councils, our national body, on this matter. An extraordinary meeting of the full council is being called to consider this confidential legal advice. The agenda for this meeting is being published tomorrow – the meeting will be on the 19th. At this time, Cllr Hawke remains a councillor.
Parish poll update
We also asked the council what advice it had received regarding whether to hold a parish poll on a vote of no confidence in Cllr Brodigan, following last week’s parish meeting.
Mr Chugg replied:
Ripon City Council sought advice from the elections office at North Yorkshire Council and also from Yorkshire Local Councils Association — the county association for all local councils in Yorkshire.
The elections officer advised the council to seek advice from YLCA. YLCA have referred this matter to their/our national body, the National Association of Local Councils. We are still awaiting this advice from NALC.
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