A councillor who resigned has hit back at her party’s leader on Lichfield District Council by accusing him of reducing her departure to a “point-scoring” exercise.
Joanne Grange resigned from the local authority after a row over a planning application in the city.
She accused the council of ignoring its own guidelines by approving the construction of a new property on Gaiafields Road – a decision she said had made her position untenable as she prepares to join other residents in fighting the decision.
But Cllr Mike Wilcox, leader of the Conservative-controlled council, said he was “extremely disappointed” by Miss Grange’s actions.
He said: “Being a councillor gives you the opportunity to contribute along with colleagues in challenging and debating those areas where you think this is required, rather than stepping away and trying to influence from outside of the council.
“Sometimes as councillors we have to rise above our self interest and accept that we will not always win the particular argument, but what we do is to continue in our role.”
But Miss Grange hit back at Cllr Wilcox’s suggestion that she had put self-interest first.
“I am disappointed that the leader of the council has tried to reduce this to a point-scoring exercise by omitting to mention the times I tried to raise concerns,” she said.
“I’m also disappointed that he believes I was acting out of self interest. This is not the case.
“The accusation that I have resigned through self interest is incorrect, and I am surprised that Cllr Wilcox thinks this given he knows me reasonably well.
“If I was focused on self interest it would have been easy to remain as a councillor, accept that I can raise issues but they won’t be listened to, and not challenge the status quo.
“My self interest would probably have been better served by accepting this, eating the biscuits and remaining on the gravy train.”
Cllr Wilcox had also claimed Miss Grange had not sought to raise her concerns over the planning issues before announcing her resignation.
But the former Stowe ward councillor has accused the Conservative leader of having a short memory.
“He is perhaps forgetting the four page email I sent on March 27 where I explained the issues that were being encountering with the process and seeking advice, as a new councillor, about how I could reassure residents that the process would be followed correctly and fairly and in line with Lichfield District Council policies,” she said.
“I am doubly surprised he has forgotten this, because I reminded him yesterday that I had tried to raise my concerns.
“He perhaps also forgets the subsequent meeting I had with him and a member of council staff where none of the issues I had raised were taken seriously.
“He maybe also forgets the conversation I had with Cllr Ian Pritchard on March 29, which I am sure was reported back to him, where I said I did not want to talk directly to the planning team about this particular application as it would be incorrect for me to have direct involvement, and that my concerns were raised about the process that was being followed rather than the specifics of the matter at hand.
“He maybe didn’t see the follow up email I sent to Cllr Pritchard on March 29, explaining further where I felt that the process and guidelines weren’t being followed, and in particular that I felt the council had an opportunity to get the process back on track.
“He will be unaware of the many conversations I have had with colleagues on both Lichfield City Council and District Council about the planning department, and he will also be unaware of the responses I have received to my resignation letter where colleagues are agreeing with my concerns.”
