WTC: Town Clerk Resigns!

WTC: Town Clerk Resigns!

• – an “In My View” article by NIGEL WARD, reporting on the resignation of Whitby Town Council’s Town Clerk, Responsible Financial Officer and Proper Officer, Mr Adam CHUGG, who joined the Council on 1st October 2024, following the sudden departure of the former holder of those same positions, Mr Michael KING.

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In a confidential email to members of WTC’s Human Resources Committee, the outgoing Mr CHUGG is understood to have cited the Council’s failure of Duty of Care in regard to protecting him from unspecified criticism by unnamed member(s) of the Council. Already, rumours are circulating to the effect that the Council should prepare itself for a Constructive Dismissal Claim.

Having enjoyed Mr CHUGG’s company over a series of ‘working brunches’, I can confirm that, in my experience, he seemed a pleasant, well-mannered gentleman, not especially well-versed in local government law, but by nature an open and fair-minded individual, well-capable of standing up for his beliefs. On the downside, he may have been ill-served by his reliance on support from Yorkshire Local Councils Associations (YLCA) Chief Officer, Ms Sheena Spence, which was not always well-founded. He told me that it was his intention to stay with WTC until his retirement in roughly ten years time. I conclude, rightly or wrongly, that he must be deeply disappointed.

Regular readers will recall that there has been a succession of cancelled meetings (See “WTC Meetings Cancelled”) recently and the meeting scheduled for yestereve (Tuesday12th August 2025) also fell by the wayside.

Doubts have been raised over whether or not an Extraordinary Meeting called by Chair/Mayor Councillor TURNER on her own prerogative and scheduled for 6:00pm on Friday 15th August 2025 at 6:00pm can go ahead, since there are doubts about the legality of the publication of Public Notice. If unlawfully convened, no Resolutions taken by Council can be enacted.

Councillor TURNER is understood to be on holiday at present and my email to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jonathan HARSTON and Assistant Town Clerk Phil TRUMPER (seeking clarification) has received no response by press-deadline.