WESTBURY Town Council rejected a suggestion by member, cllr Ward Jones, that it should write a formal letter of thanks to former councillor, Nick Pyne, following his resignation last month after three and a half years serving the council.
During the time, cllr Pyne served as chair to the finance committee and was a member of the policy & resources and highways, planning & development committees. He attended a number of supporting working groups and was the town council representative for CATG (Community Area Transport Group) and Hills Liaison Group.
At their meeting on Monday 11th January, members of the town council noted that cllr Pyne handed in his notice on 7th December 2020 and that the clerk had informed the returning officer that a casual vacancy now exists.
They heard that the vacancy will not be filled in line with the six-month rule for by-elections. However members can choose to co-opt a member for the remaining period of council (until 6th May 2021).
Cllr Sheila Kimmins said she felt May’s election polls were likely to be postponed across the country due to the pandemic.
“They are looking to postpone to the autumn. Before we start voting what we’ve got to bear in mind is that this council may have to continue to the autumn,” she said.
Cllr Jones said, “I wonder if it would be in order to suggest that as a town council we write to Nick Pyne to thank him for his contribution to the council? I think that would be a creative gesture.” Cllr Kimmins seconded the motion.
Committee chair, cllr Mike Sutton replied, “Yes I’m sure we could. I’ve written to him myself thanking him, but it might be better coming from the town council.”
Cllr Ian Cunningham informed members he would not be in favour of co-opting someone onto the council at this late stage. And he said he would “disagree strongly” with cllr Jones.
“We haven’t been in the habit of writing to other councillors when they resign,” he said. “I think an informal message from the chair is good enough.
“We have to remember councillors are political entities, so if we start writing to them saying how great they are, are we going to write a standard letter we agree the terms of? What happens if we send that latter to a councillor and they give it to their Party and the Party put it on their website, saying, ‘this is why you should vote for our Party, we have councillors like this.’
“What about councillors who we don’t think have done a good job or who don’t turn up for meetings – do they get no letter or a nasty letter?
“I would strongly suggest we don’t write – we haven’t done it and I don’t think we should start now.”
The chair proposed they did not co-opt for the moment “as we don’t know how long this council will run and if it does finish in May, it would be illogical and unfair to ask anybody to sit for three months then disappear again, with or without a letter.” Cllr Cunningham seconded.
Cllr Jones said, “That would be very sensible and I think we should say we will review it in light of subsequent guidance from on high, so that if we’re told how long an extension is of the current council, we can form a view and act on it if we actually advertise.”
Cllr Mike Kettlety added that if individual councillors wish to write and express gratitude to cllr Pyne they should do so, but it was not something the council as a whole should do.”
Before the meeting took place, Cllr Pyne told White Horse News, “I resigned because I was unhappy with how the council operates and the budget in particular.”
When asked if he would provide any more detail he replied, “Given that there are supposed to be elections in May and Westbury Town Council are advertising for candidates, I think that it would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on my reasons for resigning at the moment, other than repeat what I have already said.”
