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Calls are mounting for the boss of Thanet District Council to step down in the wake of a damning report which revealed a culture of bullying and intimidation at the authority.
Auditor Grant Thornton last week said the scandal at the top of TDC had prompted “a serious breakdown in relations” between its four most senior figures, including chief executive Madeline Homer.
It told how the cash-strapped council needs to make cuts to fund the rising costs of having to resolve grievances and whistle-blowing complaints involving the powerful quartet and “a number of officers”.
This is despite it having already splurged £700,000 on legal advice – on top of a “significant unbudgeted cost” – and with it engaged in potentially expensive employment tribunals.
GMB Union regional organiser Frank Macklin – who represents two complainants – has labelled the situation appalling and says the time has come for Ms Homer to step aside.
“I have never come across anything like this in all the years I’ve been doing this job,” he explained.
“Just shy of £1 million of taxpayers’ money that could have been used to repair lifts, make the beaches more user-friendly and for housing has instead been used on solicitors.”
The auditor said in some instances the advice paid for was “interpreted selectively, ignored, discredited or restricted in its circulation to members”.
Former district councillor Karen Constantine, who sat on the authority for four years until she stepped down last year, also believes Ms Homer should go in the wake of last week's findings.
The Labour politician, who represents Ramsgate on Kent County Council, said: “You wouldn’t tolerate this in any other organisation. People are afraid to speak out, and she doesn’t enjoy the trust and confidence of a lot of the employees.
“She should forfeit her settlement payment and do the honest thing – resign.”
Last week’s damning Grant Thornton report revealed eight independent investigations conducted over the last two-and-a-half years by six different reviewers have “identified at least two cases where they considered there to be clear evidence of bullying”.
The council took disciplinary action on appeal and only after a third independent review.
Between 2019 and 2020 there was also a series of linked complaints and grievances involving officers and the authority’s most senior figures – Ms Homer, operations director Gavin Waite, director of governance Tim Howes, and deputy chief executive Tim Willis, who has now left the council.
The report details “a serious breakdown in relations” between the leading quartet and unearths “examples of serious allegations made by senior officers without adequate, or in some cases any, supporting evidence”.
The auditor states: “The council’s management culture has allowed the perception that attempts to raise legitimate concerns will be met by disciplinary action.
“This has been described by one independent reviewer as a ‘culture of overt bullying, intimidation, victimisation or humiliation within Thanet District Council.”
Grant Thornton reports that one review found that employees raising grievances and whistleblowing complaints, which the auditor considered to have “merit”, were “subject to disciplinary action prior to the substance of their complaints being formally considered”.
Another probe found that the behaviour of senior officers was “found to fall below the standard expected on a number of occasions, indicating a repeated pattern of behaviour by some individuals”.
Grant Thornton predicts financial “pressures that the council will be unable to meet without reducing reserves” even more.
After the company wrote to one of the authority’s committees in July to air its worries, further complaints were lodged and another employment tribunal claim has been submitted.
“[There are] escalating costs, adding to unsustainable cost pressures [and] a fragile financial position,” Grant Thornton continues.
"I have never come across anything like this in all the years I’ve been doing this job..."
“The position described represents a failure of governance with serious concerns about the ability of senior officers to work together in the best interest of the council.”
Grant Thornton is urging the authority to identify additional savings “to address the cost pressures created in resolving the grievances and whistle-blowing complaints”.
It also believes the body should appoint “an experienced, independent monitoring officer” and settle on an approach to respond to the concerns raised.
TDC leader Cllr Ash Ashbee (Con) said: “Good governance is the cornerstone of good local government and it is essential that we do everything we can to improve the way we work.
"It is absolutely right that members will have the chance to discuss the recommendations, to participate in the process and ensure we commit to a robust plan of action.”
‘I have the support of council staff and members’
Despite presiding over a council mired in allegations of bullying, and with considerable amounts of public money spent on consequent legal advice, Ms Homer maintains she has the support of authority staff and members to continue in her role.
In a statement sent to KentOnline, she said: “The council takes all allegations seriously and investigates them properly in accordance with both the council’s procedures and the duty we have to all staff under employment law.
“Quite rightly those procedures are not under my control and have been looked at independently. Due to the complicated nature of these issues the process has taken some time. However, I can confirm that following a thorough investigation there were no actions recommended against me.
“During this time I have successfully led the organisation through the pandemic, have the support of staff and members and continue to oversee a council that is delivering a good level of service to the residents of Thanet. Contrary to some of the public commentary, our staff, including the management team, work very well together and are incredibly supportive of each other.
“In respect of the external auditor’s report, I fully respect the role they carry out and entirely support the four recommendations they have made, but it will be for council to consider and decide on the recommendations on November 2. Like any organisation, there will be lessons for us to learn and we want to move forward on that basis and be stronger for it.”
'Give her time'
Labour councillor Harry Scobie believes Ms Homer should remain in her post, labelling her “by far the best” chief executive he has worked with in his 10 years on the authority.
“I think there’s a lot in there [the Grant Thornton report], but apart from that, I haven’t thought about it,” the Cliftonville West representative said.
“I think Ms Homer is excellent.
“I’ve been a councillor under three chief executives, and she’s by far the best. That’s as far as I’m prepared to go.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Rev Stuart Piper (Ind) believes calls for the authority chief’s removal are premature, even though the scandal has rumbled on for two years and cost several hundred thousand pounds of public money.
He says “natural justice demands” that she, along with other senior offices in line for criticism, should have “an opportunity to respond” to the latest investigation.
“I’ve no doubt some people will jump up and say she has to go,” he added.
“Anyone calling at this stage for her to go is not giving her that chance.”
Deputy steps down
One of Thanet District Council’s leading figures left his role on Friday just days after the publication of the Grant Thornton report.
Deputy chief executive Tim Willis – described as an “honourable, honest man” by one senior councillor – stepped away from his job on Friday following mediated talks.
The news was discussed at Thursday’s full council meeting – after the exclusion of the press and the public.
Mr Willis, 61, received an appeal in 2019 from a whistle-blower who named Ms Homer and Mr Waite in a list of complaints, which included bullying and harassment.
But, to the outcry of many councillors, Mr Willis was later suspended from his role, without any reason given for the shock decision.
The suspension was lifted a month later, as he was cleared of all allegations of gross misconduct.
TDC leader Cllr Ashbee has this week apologised for the saga two years ago, adding Mr Willis has left the authority "with a spotless employment record".
“Tim Willis was suspended by the council in August 2019," she said.
"This should not have happened and on behalf of Thanet District Council, I apologise to him for that.
"The council’s general purposes committee subsequently unanimously dismissed all allegations against Tim Willis.
"He leaves the employment of the council with a spotless employment record, and I would like to thank him for his service.”
Revelations in Grant Thornton report
