Bingham town clerk resigns after former mayor and current deputy were suspended for harassing her
A town clerk who was harassed and subject to an oppressive work environment by two senior councillors has resigned.
Sharon Pyke has resigned from her role as clerk to Bingham Town Council with immediate effect.
It comes after those found to have harassed her — mayor at the time John Stockwood and current deputy mayor Francis Purdue-Horan — were suspended from the Conservative Party following an independent investigation in to allegations of bullying.
Bingham Town Council confirmed the resignation, but declined to comment.
An independent investigation concluded Mr Stockwood and Mr Purdue-Horan breached several aspects of Bingham Town Council’s code of conduct by creating an oppressive work environment for the town clerk with the objective of removing her from office, and plainly led and instigated oppressive behaviour.
It said the intention of the pair was to deal with what they perceived to be poor performance from the clerk.
The members sought professional advice, however, that advice was revised and led to decisions being overturned on three occasions.
The report continued: “Whilst the subject members were advised by professional HR advisors, in not seeking and confirming this advice in writing they failed to hold themselves accountable for their decisions and frustrated any proper scrutiny of those decisions.
“The panel is satisfied that professional advice was, however, properly sought by the subject members.
“The (oppressive) environment was created by successive attempts by the members to remove the clerk not via an appropriate performance management mechanism but by measures that would result in her employment ending without the use of such mechanisms.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council said incidents could not be considered as happening in isolation and that there was a pattern of behaviour with cumulative impact.
The council has recommended both members apologise to the clerk in writing and reflect on the appropriateness of their membership of the town HR committee; with the council invited to arrange HR performance management for all councillors.
Mr Stockwood — also a borough councillor — and Mr Purdue-Horan — a borough and county councillor — cannot attend meetings of their authorities or any party-related activities as Conservatives.
Despite the suspensions, they can still attend meetings.