Bedford Borough Council is reviewing the mayor’s assistant role after a government inspection report and social media allegations of bullying.
The Best Value Inspection report found the assistant went beyond their legal remit, inappropriately interfering in council operations and financial matters.
The Bedford Independent asked the council whether it viewed the assistant’s actions as a breach of legislation.
We also asked whether the monitoring officer is investigating whether Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) breached the members’ code of conduct for failing to manage this statutory risk.
A spokesperson for Bedford Borough Council said: “These are among a number of findings in the report which the council is reviewing.”
Under the Local Authorities Regulations 2002, a mayor’s assistant is strictly limited to providing strategic, policy and administrative support.
The law explicitly states that a council cannot delegate powers and functions to the assistant.
In an entire section of its 91-page report (4.30 to 4.42) dedicated to the mayor’s assistant, the inspection report highlighted that the mayor appointed his former section 151 officer to the role.
A section 151 officer is a senior statutory finance officer who is personally responsible for the proper administration of the council’s financial affairs.
Mayor failed to mitigate risks
Inspectors noted that the mayor should have anticipated the governance risks of this appointment and taken action to mitigate them but failed to do so.
Instead, the report found evidence that the assistant held significant authority with the mayor and used a very assertive personal style.
Inspectors concluded that this overreach undermined good governance and bypassed the authority of current statutory officers.
As stated in their report, the mayor’s assistant told inspectors he understands the risk of giving information or advice behind the scenes but denies undermining the Section 151 Officer.
We asked the mayor if he accepts the inspectors’ findings and if he would remove him from the role or agree to a revised role description and operating protocol with the chief executive.
But he did not respond.
The council has not yet confirmed when its internal review into these findings and allegations will conclude.
