Barnoldswick councillor cleared of 'bullying allegations'

2:30pm Sunday 16th November 2008

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By Peter Magill »

A SENIOR Pendle councillor has been cleared off bullying allegations after a bitter feud developed with a former town council clerk.

An investigation was ordered into Coun David Whipp, in his role as Barnoldswick town councillor, after ex-town council clerk Robert Kandt claimed he had been subjected to repeated incidences of ‘intimidating behaviour’ by him.

But the independent inquiry, conducted by former local government officer Mike Dudfield, found Coun Whipp did not breach his code of conduct, as he did not compromise the impartiality of Mr Kandt in his position, nor failed to give him the proper level of respect in his role as clerk.

And his recommendations were endorsed by a three-strong standards committee panel, made up of independent members, at Nelson Town Hall.

The committee heard Mr Kandt, who did not attend the hearing, was appointed in September 2003, and Coun Whipp was on an interview panel which selected him.

But a clash of personalities soon emerged between the pair, with Mr Kandt complaining vital budget information was withheld from him by Coun Whipp, in 2005/06, and he had been nominated him as secretary of the West Craven Together group, without his knowledge or authority.

An attempt at mediation, involving the Lancashire Association of Parish and Town Councils, failed to resolve the dispute and Mr Kandt lodged a grievance with the town council in November 2007.

This proved unsuccessful and a subsequent appeal to the full town council was also rejected. Mr Kandt’s employment ended in January as he had reached his 65th birthday.

Following the meeting Coun Whipp, also a Pendle borough councillor and Lancashire County councillor, said: “I am just relieved, after 18 months of this, that we can draw a line under this. I am just glad that it is all over.”