Councillor Resigns To Speak Freely
September 7, 2005 6:32 PM
Liberal Democrat councillor Glenda Allanach has resigned from her seat on Rugby Borough Council where she represented Paddox Ward.
Mrs Allanach said "I am very sorry to have to give up representing the people of Paddox Ward on the Council. Over the last few months I have found it very difficult to balance my paid employment for Warwickshire County Council where I run the Clifton Road Mental Health team in Rugby, with being a borough councillor."
"There have been a number of occasions recently when I would have wanted to speak out on the council's changing policies but I have been unable to do so. A key example was the cabinet's decision to pull out of the supporting vulnerable people initiative. As a councillor I thought pulling out would have a disastrous impact on many peoples lives. However as my work involves supporting some of the same people I could have been hauled up before the Standards Board if I had spoken my mind."
"I found I was not able to be both the councillor I wanted to be and to do my job working with Rugby citizens with chronic mental health issues in the way that I wanted to do. Now that I am no longer a councillor I shall be free to speak my mind on these issues."
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse who leads the Liberal Democrat group on Rugby Borough Council said "It is a sad day for Paddox and Rugby to have to lose an excellent councillor like Glenda Allanach in this way. The Standards Board for England is making it increasingly difficult for councillors to do their job in the normal way. Glenda always provided a thoughtful contribution to Council debates and she will be hard to replace."
It is likely that a by-election will now be held in Paddox Ward.
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