Fourth councillor resigns due to 'Endemic bullying' at Honiton Town Council

Councillor James Wyatt has resigned from Honiton Town Council today due to what he describes as 'endemic' bullying at the council.

In his resignation letter Mr Wyatt outlines what he calls 'a systematic process of belittling and isolating staff through small aggressions every day'.

He also raises concerns about the safety of reopening Honiton Market and how decisions are being made which affect public safety, 'outside of the view of the public'.

Mr Wyatt is the fourth councillor to resign since March and our sources say more resignations are expected on Monday.

Councillor Jason Hannay resigned on May 11, joining his brother Nathan Hannay who resigned earlier this year and deputy mayor Duncan Sheridan-Shaw who resigned on April 27. All three councillors mentioned bullying at the council in their resignation letters.

Here is councillor Wyatt's resignation letter:

"Dear Councillors,

"Due to the events of the last two weeks I am afraid that I must tender my resignation from Honiton Town Council. The events to which I refer are bullying within the Town Council towards our employees and the way in which the council has failed to apply the appropriate rigour to the critical decisions of how open the town market safely.

"In regards to bullying. In Honiton Town Council this is endemic. While open insults are rare and challenged when they do occur by the few councillors who have the strength, there is a systematic process of belittling and isolating staff through small aggressions every day. I have seen this behaviour from the few and especially from the top but it is supported by a much larger a group of councillors sometimes simply through an unwillingness to challenge them. My main concerns over the last two weeks have now been reported to the Monitoring Officer for review.

"On the market, I would first say that I am in full support of our market traders and want them to have the opportunity to get back to work as soon as we can provide them with a safe way to do so.

"Many options have been floated on the location and timing of the Honiton Market given the threat of COVID 19.

"While I feel a central location would allow us to have all traders who wish to trade attend in a controlled manner, I respect the vote of HTC that the high street is to be used. However, since that decision, I have seen no evidence that we the Town Council have applied the required diligence to make a plan, show it is safe and communicate it.

"The mayor and councillor Taylor have taken over the issue in the last week removing it from the hands of staff and proving minimal information to councillors and Staff. They have also not provided the information requested by EDDC Environmental Health for them to assist in ensuring the market is safe.

"On Friday, June 5, a vote was called. The evidence presented was a substandard risk assessment, a statement that councillor Taylor had been going 'round in circles' with Environmental Health and a final piece of correspondence sent to Environmental Health. Despite requesting all correspondence with Environmental Health on the matter three times to find out what their concerns are, the mayor has refused to provide such information and has expected councillors to vote without it. The following councillors approved the opening of the market from the information given:

-Councillor Zarczynski

-Councillor Carrigan

-Councillor Taylor

-Councillor Darrant

-Councillor McNally

-Councillor Coombs

-Councillor Gilson

-Councillor Dolby

"It should be noted that this issue is likely to be the first time any Honiton Town councillor in recent memory has had to make a decision which affects the health and potentially lives of our townspeople in such an extreme way.

"This has been done outside the view of the public with no published reports or public oversight. At the same time the council has voted not to hold meetings this month as they feel it would be unsafe for them even when using a large hall to socially distance and allowing the public to attend by remote means. Nor will they meet fully remotely.

"Regarding the traders and those working on the market this weekend, I genuinely hope they are safe and they can make it work. They are hard-working and resourceful and I have faith they will find a way to be safe and have the moral courage to flag up anything they feel is not right. However, it will be through the efforts of those on the day rather than any planning, forethought and suitable scrutiny that this will be achieved.

"I hand in my resignation as I can do little else to highlight the issues and effect change. I have fought to protect our staff and I have fought to ensure the safety of our townspeople is given the diligence it deserves. It is clear to me that with a group of 8 councillors who will do whatever our Mayor tells them the contempt shown to the public will continue indefinitely even if the Mayorship is transferred to another of the group.

"To my friends and supporters on the council I wish you well and hope to support you in the future. To the staff at HTC I offer even greater thanks, your perseverance through adversity is incredible."