Two Whitby town councillors accused of unacceptable behaviour towards staff have resigned ahead of a meeting to discuss an independent investigation, alongside three other councillors who stepped down the same day.
Two councillors accused of ‘sustained inappropriate conduct’ have resigned from a local authority before a meeting was due to discuss the allegations.
An independent investigation commissioned by Whitby Town Council has recommended banning two former councillors from entering the local museum.
It has also recommended the authority should formally disassociate itself from the actions of Jacqui Layman and Chris Riddolls due to
“their unacceptable treatment of staff and their disruptive behaviour within the council”.
Ahead of a council meeting on Monday, which was held to examine the findings of the investigations, the two councillors tendered their resignations.
A motion of no confidence in Ms Layman and Mr Riddolls was due to be recommended for approval at the meeting.
Three other councillors also separately resigned from the parish council on the same day, creating five vacancies on the 19-seat authority.
In a resignation letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Ms Layman said she denied “the allegations made in the confidential investigation”.
Councillors expressed their “profound concern and dismay” at the findings and described the reports as “deeply disturbing and difficult to read”, particularly the accounts from current and former employees about the impact on their professional and personal wellbeing, according to draft minutes of Monday’s meeting.
The investigation reports have not been made public, but members noted
“evidence demonstrating a sustained pattern of inappropriate conduct involving Ms Layman and Mr Riddolls over an extended period, affecting several current and former employees and contributing to serious difficulties in member-officer relationships and the effective functioning of the council”.
The two councillors could not be reached for comment, and Whitby Town Council declined to comment on the resignations before a full meeting next week, which will consider the recommendations of the investigation.
At Monday’s meeting, councillors said the pair’s resignation did not remove the need for protective measures in relation to them as individuals and agreed that
“measures recommended by the investigator should, where appropriate, continue to be pursued for the sole purpose of protecting employee health, safety, and wellbeing”.
Recommendations to the upcoming full council meeting include banning Ms Layman and Mr Riddolls from entering the Pannett Art Gallery and Whitby Museum building, and a ban on meeting with or telephoning council officers.
The authority is also set to arrange financial support for its staff members to obtain independent legal advice concerning potential civil claims, according to minutes.
A committee report adds that
“should Ms Layman or Mr Riddolls persist in their current behaviour, the town clerk be authorised to seek legal advice on behalf of the council as to the serving of an injunction on either or both individuals”.
The five councillors who resigned are Stephen Smith (Abbey Ward), Alfred Abbott (Ruswarp Ward), Amanda Smith and Jacqui Layman (Stakesby Ward), and Christopher Riddolls (White Leys Ward).
Residents who are registered electors in the affected wards have the opportunity to request a by-election to fill the vacancies.
An extraordinary meeting of Whitby Town Council will be held next week to discuss the recommendations of the committee report.
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