OPPOSITION CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF Peter Halliday as COUNCIL’S DEPUTY LEADER
This follows the investigation of the council’s Independent Panel into a complaint over Cllr Halliday’s behaviour at a meeting of the council held on 22nd May during which he disrupted the business of the meeting by confronting a member of the public, an action which resulted in him being joined by three apparently worried Cabinet colleagues.
The finding of the Independent Panel was that Cllr Halliday was guilty of gross misconduct and should be issued with a formal reprimand but the in built Conservative majority on the TDC Conduct Committee closed ranks to ignore the findings of the government recommended independent panel and exonerate their party’s Deputy Leader.
The opposition members, almost all of whom were present at the May 22nd meeting and who witnessed Cllr Halliday seek to confront the member of the public while business was still being conducted, are disgusted and dismayed both by his behaviour and the subsequent actions of his Conservative colleagues on the committee. All 27 believe that he has so damaged the reputation of the council that it is inconceivable that he can remain as the council’s Deputy Leader without his presence in the post further demeaning TDC’s name both within the district and beyond.
At a packed emergency meeting of opposition councillors held last night to discuss the situation it was unanimously decided that Cllr Halliday’s resignation from his post should be demanded.
Cllr Michael Talbot, leader of the Independent Group, says
“I was in the chamber when the incident occurred and I was present at the hearing of the Conduct committee which exonerated him. I am not sure which shocked me more as both incidents were quite disgraceful.”
Pierre Oxley, leader of Tendring First, says
“Tendring First had remained on the Conduct committee in the hope that this hearing would go some way to restoring it’s reputation but it has made it worse. Tendring First has now joined the other opposition groups in withdrawing its representative from the committee.”
Harry Shearing, leader of the Liberal Democrats, says
“Cllr Halliday has been found guilty by an independent panel following an independent investigation. That alone warrants his resignation even before his Tory colleagues combined to throw out the complaint.”
Ivan Henderson, leader of the Labour Group, says
“I have never witnessed anything quite like it and naturally assumed the Conduct committee would act upon the findings of the independent inquiry. Cllr Halliday should have resigned the morning after the incident without any need for an inquiry. It is incredible to think that any Conservative councillor can believe he can remain as Deputy Leader of the council with any dignity or credibility.”
For further information please contact
Michael Talbot on 01255 820796
Harry Shearing on 671969 mobile 07786 855 494
Pierre Oxley on 07833 454 123
Ivan Henderson on 07889 367822