Tenby Town councillor Mike Thorne resigns ‘disappointing’ position (From Western Telegraph)

Tenby Town councillor Mike Thorne resigns ‘disappointing’ position

11:00am Sunday 14th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(2)

A volley of salvos has been fired at the ‘dysfunctional’ Tenby Town Council by controversial member Mike Thorne in tendering his resignation.

Despite his expectations, the former local government planning officer has found being a town councillor “a profoundly disappointing and frustrating experience”, he told members at last week’s meeting.

Councillor Thorne is currently the subject of complaints to the Public Services Ombudsman by five members of the council, alleging that he had breached the Code of Conduct for councillors.

He has also lodged a complaint to the Ombudsman of a conduct code breach by the mayor, Councillor Sue Lane.

These investigations now look to take some time, during which Cllr Thorne has been barred from taking part in any debates relating to planning matters or the De Valence Trust, which he formerly chaired. He felt this was “distressing and frustrating”.

He said: “I have concluded that I was able to make a more meaningful contribution to my community before I became a councillor, and it is not productive to continue in this role as a town councillor.”

He emphasised that he had “vigorously responded” to the Ombudsman that the complaints are “without foundation”.

He added: “I have also pointed out to the Ombudsman that, in the same period in which I have allegedly breached the code of conduct, the town council has actually resolved to ask me to give advice on planning matters, and I have compiled several reports for the council.”

He queried the “hostility” in the council chamber towards the De Valence Trust, which had replaced the “optimism and goodwill” of its launch in 2004, and repeated his disquiet at the conflict and confrontation present in town council meetings.

“The evident lack of preparation by members for the council meetings inevitably leads to a poor standard of debate and poor decision-making,” he said.

“The council is essentially a dysfunctional body, and even if the Ombudsman found in my favour, I would not be optimistic that that would change.”

He concluded: “There are people in this town who will say that I have given in to the ‘forces of darkness’, or ‘the coven’, as some people call them.

“That is a pity, but I have concluded that I will be a happier and more fulfilled person by not being a member of this Tenby Town Council.”

The resignation was accepted by the town council.

A casual vacancy for the council seat will soon be announced.