Mayfield councillor resigns over response to a complaint

Nick Hitchens

THE CHAIRMAN of Mayfield Parish Council planning committee has resigned mid-meeting as a rift over correspondence with a parishioner continued.

Cllr Peter Deller tendered his resignation on Monday at the council's annual meeting following a debate about how it was handling a complaint from a parishioner over his behaviour. He said: "I would not be honest to myself if I sat here any longer. I hereby resign from this council."

The controversy began when Brian Blundell, the owner of The Middle House pub in Mayfield High Street, complained about Cllr Deller following a telephone conversation between the two regarding a planning application.

On receipt of the letter, the risk assessment sub-committee comprising Cllrs Herb Hills, Chris Lilly, Robert Fitzsimmons and then-chairman Martin Pitcher, alongside parish clerk David Thompson, agreed to write to Mr Blundell apologising for Cllr Deller's behaviour.

This was done without consulting Cllr Deller.

Cllr Deller quoted this response on Monday, which stated he had brought the council into disrepute and that they found his behaviour "equally hurtful".

The issue first came to light at a full council meeting on April 20 and re-arose on Monday when confirming the minutes of the finance and general purposes committee held on April 27.

At that meeting a solution to the problem was discussed and it was agreed that the letter would not be withdrawn but a second letter be sent explaining that complaints against individual councillors are dealt with at district level. This was yet to be sent on Monday.

Cllr Deller questioned this decision and was told by Cllr Fitzsimmons the committee had felt further correspondence would only make the situation worse.

"That letter is still in the public domain and you as a council are doing nothing about it," Cllr Deller said. "Mr Blundell is being placed higher than myself," added Cllr Deller. "You place his feelings higher than mine?"

Cllr Deller's cause was supported by Cllr Lloyd McLean who argued that a letter should be sent to Mr Blundell stating the council was wrong to send its first response, and that if he wanted to pursue it further he should approach Wealden District Council

Cllr McLean then urged Cllr Fitzsimmons to act to prevent Cllr Deller from resigning. "We are going to lose a very important member of this council unless you write this letter," he said.

Following Cllr Deller's departure the council voted by eight to four in favour of writing to Mr Blundell stating that the first letter was incorrect, and sending a copy to Cllr Deller.

Earlier in the meeting yearly appointments to roles within the council saw Cllr Pitcher step down from his role as chairman and Cllr Fitzsimmons appointed while Cllr Deveda Redman was elected as vice-chairman.