Police intervene after council leader threatened over recycling vote
The revelations came as a council decision to close household recycling centres at Lower Compton and at Purton became more heated
Police have intervened after the leader of Wiltshire Council said he was threatened over decisions to close two recycling centres in the county.
In an exclusive interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Ian Thorn – who is in recovery at home following hospital surgery early in the new year – said: “As a result of opponents making the issue highly personalised, I have had a letter threatening my safety and threats to dump rubbish at my home.
“I can deal with it, but I’m not sure my family and children can.”
The revelations came as a council decision to close household recycling centres at Lower Compton, near Calne, and at Purton became more heated.
During a meeting of Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board on the matter, chairman Andrew Matthews, Wiltshire councillor for Royal Wootton Bassett East had to call for calm and ask members of the public to stop shouting over councillors, why were trying to answer questions and explain the council’s position.
Besides his position as leader of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Thorn is also the mayor of Calne, where political rivals have tabled a motion of no confidence in his leadership.
The motion, tabled by town councillor Tara Fisher (Labour, Calne South) relates to two issues:
· The mayor’s involvement in the decision to close the Lower Compton Household Recycling Centre, while acting in his other role as leader of Wiltshire Council.
· The mayor’s poor attendance at Town Council committees and working groups.
Cllr Fisher said: “The mayor’s job is to stand up for the residents of Calne and represent the Town Council in its opposition to the closure of Lower Compton Household Recycling Centre.
“This role is clearly in direct conflict with Cllr Thorn’s other role as leader of Wiltshire Council.
“The decision to close Lower Compton was taken by Cllr Thorn and cabinet colleagues with no consultation with the public or with Calne Town Council. Cllr Thorn clearly cannot continue in these dual roles.”
On attendance, Cllr Fisher said Cllr Thorn had only attended seven of the 61 committee and working group meetings – 11 per cent – since he became mayor. Over the same period, his mayoral predecessor, Jon Fisher, attended 49 of 66 meetings – 74 per cent.
Councillors have asked for an extraordinary meeting of the full council to debate the motion “as soon as possible.”
On the motion to depose him as mayor, Cllr Thorn said: “After over eight years serving the people of Calne Central and more recently as Mayor, the whole of Calne, undertaking thousands of pieces of case work and working with residents on so many campaigns, I was really disappointed to hear this news.
“However, I look forward to listening to and taking part in the debate and hope I can win a majority of colleagues to my side.”
In a statement, Wiltshire Police said: “We can confirm that we received a report regarding concerning comments being made towards a councillor from Calne earlier this month.
“Enquiries have been carried out and a man in his 60s from Calne was interviewed under caution in relation to the threats.
“He has since been dealt with by way of a community resolution and the victim has been updated.”