NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL has confirmed that the postponement of Monday’s (Oct 7) council meeting was due to the submission of a formal grievance complaint, alleging harassment by several councillors.

The Mayor of Neyland, Councillor Peter Hay, has issued a statement outlining the situation and the actions taken so far.

According to the statement, published on social media, the complaint was lodged by the Town Clerk, and its serious nature was the primary reason for the delay of the scheduled meeting.

The council is now following proper procedures in dealing with the matter, which include officially acknowledging the receipt of the grievance and informing all parties involved.

An internal assessment meeting was hastily convened last night, utilising the time made available by the meeting’s postponement.

All councillors, except those named in the complaint, were invited to participate.

Following this internal review, the council concluded that there is substance to the Clerk’s grievance.

Further steps will now be undertaken to fully address the complaint in line with the council’s established procedures. The Mayor has reassured residents that a new date for the postponed council meeting is being arranged and hopes the swift action will alleviate any concerns regarding the delay.

Grievance sparks division within Neyland Town Council, and residents express concern

The handling of the issue has drawn sharp criticism from local residents, as reflected in comments on the council’s Facebook post.

One resident, Jessica Hatchett, questioned the need for making the matter public, stating, “Grievances are confidential, and nobody needed to know. However, since this complaint has been known about by several people outside the council for several months, I do wonder why it has taken so long to investigate it. It should also be investigated by someone completely impartial, not just uninvolved councillors.” Hatchett further expressed disappointment in the apparent divisions within the council, saying, “At the moment, it is very obvious when you attend meetings that the council is split into groups. It’s a shame.”

Other comments mirrored Hatchett’s concerns about the council’s apparent factionalism. Frank Rowland supported the call for unity, writing, “The council should all be working towards the betterment of Neyland, not pursuing personal vendettas.” Another resident, Steve Thomas, who claims to be a current councillor, highlighted the difficulties faced by some members in their attempts to work for the community. “We shouldn’t have to battle against other Councillors to do what is right for the people of Neyland, but unfortunately that has been the very sorry state of affairs for the last two years,” Thomas stated.

Thomas also defended the timing of the information release, suggesting that the public needed to be aware of behind-the-scenes events. He alleged that the councillors involved in the grievance complaint had been holding a private meeting on the same evening the council meeting was postponed, a move that had raised concerns among some members of the public. “The exclusion of some Councillors now, Councillors who they are desperate to remove from the Council as we are scrutinising wrongdoing, is nothing less than an abuse of power, i.e., corruption,” Thomas claimed.

Amid the growing public debate, there were also legal concerns raised about the manner in which the grievance has been handled. Another commenter, Ian Hatchett, reminded the Mayor of his legal obligation to maintain confidentiality surrounding the identity of individuals involved in a grievance. “My thoughts go out to the clerk,” he added, voicing support for the council employee at the heart of the issue.

The situation has shone a light on what appears to be deeper fractures within Neyland Town Council, with residents and councillors alike calling for an end to internal conflicts in order to better serve the local community.

A new date for the postponed council meeting has yet to be announced, and residents are hoping for a resolution that will allow the council to refocus on issues affecting the town.

All eyes are now on Neyland Town Coucil.

The handling of this grievance could have lasting implications for the unity and effectiveness of the council moving forward.

(Pictured: Neyland’s Mayor, Cllr Peter Hay, and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Ash Phelan).