Councillor Sarah Gallagher has resigned from Bedford Borough Council’s executive cabinet, saying she could no longer continue in an executive where she believed “unethical and corrupt behaviour” was being tolerated.
This is the third resignation from the cabinet in a week, following those from councillor Robert Rigby and councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant.
In a resignation letter addressed to mayor Tom Wootton, and seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), cllr Gallagher (Conservative, Shortstown) said she was stepping down from her role as portfolio holder for customer experience, including leisure and culture, with immediate effect.
She wrote: “I can no longer continue being on the Executive Cabinet, where I believe unethical and corrupt behaviour is being tolerated.”
The resignation letter criticised the operation of informal cabinet meetings, claiming decisions were sometimes made and later changed “without the knowledge of all cabinet members”.
Cllr Gallagher wrote that “the purchase of Debenhams” was, to her knowledge, “never agreed at a cabinet meeting” and that cabinet members were “only informed afterwards”.
She also said she was not informed in advance about the relocation of the box office and tourist information service.
“The same occurred with the relocation of the box office and tourist information; I was not informed until after the decision had already been implemented,” she wrote.
Beales
The letter also referred to proposals involving the lower part of the former Beales building and the relocation of the library.
“Only after I raised this with you did I, and the cabinet, become aware of the company involved and the intention,” cllr Gallagher wrote.
Cllr Gallagher also criticised the mayor’s leadership style, writing that after three years in office, he remained “unsure which officers to contact when residents email you with complaints”.
She added: “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.”
Despite the criticism,cllr Gallagher said it had been “a real honour to work for the people of Bedford borough”.
She highlighted the appointment of leisure operator GLL and improvements at leisure centres as achievements during her time in office.
Cllr Gallagher is the third Conservative councillor to resign from Mayor Tom’s cabinet this month.
On 20 May, Cllr Rigby resigned, saying he was concerned about Mayor Tom Wootton’s leadership.
Read: Respected senior councillor quits Mayor Wootton’s cabinet with immediate effect
Then the very next day, Cllr Martin-Moran-Bryant resigned, tjhis time, due to personal comitments.
Read: Second senior councillor quits Mayor Wootton’s cabinet in days
Mayor Tom Wootton has been approached for comment.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
