Following Bedford Borough Council’s extraordinary meeting on Wednesday evening, fresh questions are being raised over Mayor Tom Wootton’s involvement in East West Rail discussions after a third councillor resigned from his cabinet in less than two weeks.
As reported by the Bedford Independent via the LDRS, yesterday, cllr Sarah Gallagher resigned from the executive on Thursday, citing what she described as “unethical and corrupt behaviour” being tolerated within the administration.
However, opposition parties are now focusing heavily on comments made during Wednesday’s meeting, where Mayor Wootton did not take part in the discussion around the council’s proposed response to East West Rail’s latest consultation because of a pecuniary interest.
A pecuniary interest is a financial interest that could potentially benefit or affect a councillor personally, their business interests, property, employment or finances, and councils require such interests to be formally declared to avoid conflicts of interest in decision-making.
EWR questions
That declaration has now prompted sharp criticism from opposition councillors, particularly around the mayor’s previous involvement in East West Rail-related meetings and campaigning.
In a joint statement, Bedford Green Party councillors said they had been concerned “for some time” that the mayor may have had an undeclared pecuniary interest connected to East West Rail, but did not feel able to publicly raise concerns without evidence.
The councillors said: “At Wednesday’s council meeting, deputy mayor Jim Weir revealed that the mayor had a pecuniary interest in East West Rail, yet the council constitution is clear: ‘A member of the executive who has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter must not exercise executive functions in relation to that matter’.
“We are deeply worried that he was convening the ‘Mayoral Public Meetings’ about EWR and meeting with the Rail Minister while he had an undeclared pecuniary interest.
“Wootton has done irreparable damage to the office of mayor. We need a clean start with a more collegiate form of governance for Bedford Borough.”
Cllr Gallagher’s letter
The comments follow cllr Gallagher’s resignation from her role as portfolio holder for customer experience, leisure and culture.
Read: Councillor resigns over “unethical and corrupt behaviour” on Borough Council executive
In her resignation letter to the mayor on Thursday, shared with the LDRS and now seen by the Bedford Independent, the Shortstown ward councillor said she could no longer remain part of the executive cabinet.
She wrote, “I can no longer continue being on the Executive Cabinet, where I believe unethical and corrupt behaviour is being tolerated.”
The councillor also referenced concerns linked to East West Rail, writing, “Whilst I knew you had a Local Interest in EWR, I did not know you had a Pecuniary Interest.”
Beyond East West Rail, the letter paints a damaging picture of how cllr Gallagher believed the administration was operating internally.
She claimed informal cabinet meetings “have not operated effectively” for some time, alleging that decisions were “often made and then changed later the same day or week, without the knowledge of all cabinet members”.
Referring to the controversial purchase of the former Debenhams building, she wrote: “The purchase of Debenhams, to my knowledge, was never agreed at a cabinet meeting, and we were only informed afterwards.”
She alleged similar issues around the relocation of the town centre box office and tourist information service, claiming she was only informed after the decision had already been implemented.
“It should not be the responsibility of officers to inform portfolio holders of major decisions, that responsibility lies with you,” she wrote.
Cllr Gallagher also criticised what she described as indecision and poor communication within the administration.
“After three years of your mayoralty, it remains concerning that you are still unsure which officers to contact when residents email you with complaints,” she wrote.
“You have been asked on numerous occasions to make decisions, yet for whatever reason, you have been unable to do so.”
The letter also reveals frustrations with sports and leisure projects in her portfolio, including what she described as long-running delays in lease renewals for sports clubs.
She further claimed cabinet members were not initially informed about proposals involving Dance Box and the possible relocation of Bedford Central Library into part of the former Beales building.
“This level of secrecy is unhelpful, particularly when the matter falls within my portfolio,” she wrote.
In one of the letter’s strongest passages, cllr Gallagher accused the mayor of being disrespectful during meetings with senior officers and cabinet members.
“Let me be clear: you are the Mayor, and you have portfolio holders for a reason. We rely on you to keep us informed,” she wrote.
“Attending meetings with Directors, where both you and cabinet members are present, and seeing you on your phone messaging others, is not only disrespectful, it is rude.”
“For these reasons, I no longer feel able to continue in my role as Portfolio Holder.”
Despite the criticism, cllr Gallagher also highlighted achievements during her time in cabinet, including the appointment of leisure operator GLL and improvements to borough leisure centres.
“It has been a real honour to work for the people of Bedford Borough,” she wrote.
Read: Cllr Sarah Gallagher’s cabinet resignation letter to Mayor Tom Wootton in full
Cabinet turmoil
The resignation marks the third cabinet departure in less than two weeks.
On 20 May, councillor Robert Rigby resigned from the cabinet, saying he could no longer remain part of the mayor’s administration due to concerns over leadership.
Read: Respected senior councillor quits Mayor Wootton’s cabinet with immediate effect
The following day, cllr Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant also stepped down, citing personal commitments, although her departure further intensified speculation about instability within the administration.
Read: Second senior councillor quits Mayor Wootton’s cabinet in days
The growing pressure carries particular political irony after Mayor Wootton himself publicly called for Bedford Borough Council chief executive Laura Church to resign earlier this year over what he described as “systemic mismanagement” at the authority.
Read: Bedford Borough mayor calls for CEO’s resignation over “systemic mismanagement” at council
Commentators have also argued that responsibility for the council’s direction also rests with the mayor himself.
In a recent Bedford Independent opinion piece examining the Best Value process, concerns were raised about leadership, accountability and deteriorating trust within the council’s senior political structure.
A recent Bedford Independent opinion piece examining the Best Value process currently underway at Borough Hall argued that, while officers faced scrutiny, “the buck also stops with you [the mayor]” politically.
Read: Opinion: Mr mayor, a Best Value inspection is embarrassing and the buck also stops with you
Pressure grows
Meanwhile, calls for the mayor himself to resign have continued to grow in recent months.
Opposition councillors from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Greens have all previously expressed no confidence in the administration, while multiple petitions calling for the mayor’s resignation have also been launched.
- Read: Labour councillors declare no confidence in Bedford mayor as opposition pressure grows
- Read: Bedford Borough councillors launch two more petitions calling for mayor’s resignation
- Read: Councillors launch joint petition calling for Bedford Borough mayor to resign
Following cllr Gallagher’s resignation, Bedford Borough Labour Group issued a statement calling for allegations raised in the letter to be urgently investigated.
The group said: “The Mayor cannot continue in post with such a reduced Executive Cabinet. Allegations of unethical and corrupt behaviour are extremely serious and must be fully investigated by the Standards Committee as a matter of urgency.
“Bedford Borough Labour Group stands ready to work with other political groups, independent members and council officers to steady this sinking ship.
“We will work to keep council services running for the residents of this Borough who have been let down so very badly by this chaotic Tory administration.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat group leader cllr Henry Vann added, “Cllr Gallagher is finally discovering what many of us have been saying for more than two years.
“The Tory house of cards is crumbling and leaving the council in chaos. The sooner Mayor Tom Wootton resigns, the better for Bedford Borough.”
Public reaction
Bedfordians have also reacted strongly on social media.
One commenter wrote, “To lose one councillor this month can be regarded as a misfortune, to lose two looks like carelessness, to lose three looks like sheer incompetence.”
Another said: “Wow, allegations of corruption. This is so damning. Surely the mayor cannot continue.”
A third added, “When is the mayor going to do the first decent thing in three years and resign? It can’t be long now.”
Mayor Tom Wootton has been approached by the LDRS for further comment, but had not replied by the time of publication.
