'Witneygate' councillors cleared (From Witney Gazette)

'Witneygate' councillors cleared

5:30pm Tuesday 28th August 2007

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THERE is no town hall "Witneygate" scandal. That is the verdict of officers from the Standards Board who have now completed their investigation into bullying, misuse of public money and bringing the town council into disrepute.

They have cleared town mayor Chrissie Curry and her partner and fellow town councillor David Harvey against allegations brought by former town clerk Pat Nevins.

It brings to an end a cloud that has been hanging over the town hall, involving resignations, claims and counter-claims, and vote of no confidence.

One former councillor, Paul Slamin, termed the furore that was aroused "Witneygate" - a reference to the notorious Watergate scandal of American politics.

Both Ms Currie and Mr Harvey said they welcomed the outcome and that the council could now put "a stormy period" behind them.

The Standards Board released their findings after carrying out interviews with councillors and staff earlier in the summer.

Ms Curry told the Gazette she was pleased and relieved to have "total vindication and clearance" from the Standard Boards inquiry.

She said: "Our actions throughout this whole distasteful affair have been with the prime consideration and welfare of the council's staff in mind and to uphold the code of conduct under which councils must, and should, operate.

"There is no corroboration or truth in the statement that I personally was supposed to have bullied the former town clerk and all charges, allegations and complaints of misconduct, misuse of council funds, etc, have been dismissed."

She said that the stress of the past few months had been enormous.

Mr Harvey, who is chairman of the town council's policy and finance committee, is also a member of West Oxfordshire District Council's cabinet, with responsibility for the environment.

He said: "I am delighted that the Standards Board has decided there is no case to answer and that the allegations were purely vexatious.

"This is the same view that was expressed by the voters of Witney in May when both of us were re-elected and, tellingly, Mr Slamin and Mr Nicholson were not.

"I do regret the waste of time and taxpayers' money that has been incurred by Mrs Nevins' actions."

The troubles at the town hall go as far back as November last year when Ms Curry and Mr Harvey said "several members of staff complained to the mayor of being bullied" by Mrs Nevins.

She had been appointed in May 2006 and in September moved from Durham to start work at the town hall in a six-week handover from former town clerk Judy White.

She officially became new town clerk on November 1.

It later emerged that soon afterwards she was being investigated by the town council over charges of gross misconduct following allegations that she had bullied members of staff.

In February this year she resigned and then made a complaint to the Standards Board about the way she herself had been treated.

One of her allegations was that Ms Curry and Mr Harvey had hired a firm of private detectives to question council staff at a cost of more than £6,000. The row also involved two councillors, Paul Slamin and David Nicholson, who quit the council following a failed vote of no confidence in Ms Curry and Mr Harvey.

In May they stood for election back on to the council, but were both defeated at the polls.

Mr Slamin has been unavailable for comment because he is currently working abroad.

Mr Nicholson said: "I have no wish to comment on the results of the inquiry."

Mrs Nevins, who is now town clerk for Letchworth Garden City Council in Hertfordshire, said yesterday she could not at this stage comment on the Standard Board's findings.

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