Debate over council leader’s wife having £8k portfolio continues

The debate surrounding the leader of Wiltshire Council’s decision to award a portfolio to his wife has continued in Trowbridge County Hall.

A Tory councillor who left the Wiltshire Council Conservative group over the issue has now been refused re-appointment to his desired committee.

Cllr Edward Kirk became an “ungrouped” councillor in April 2024, after deeming council leader Richard Clewer’s choice of portfolio holder “problematic.”

Cllr Clewer had chosen his wife as Portfolio Holder for Communications, which will earn her a “special responsibility allowance” of £8,927 per year, along with her basic councillor’s allowance of £15,869 per year.

During the full council meeting on Tuesday, May 21, Cllr Kirk requested an amendment to the annual appointment of committees which would allow him to retain his place on the Western Area Planning Committee, which he had held since 2017, until the end of the council term.

He said: “I would ask that members respect my clear rationale behind my decision and do not punish me further.

“Democratic services have confirmed that it would not be unusual for a member in my position to retain their existing committee places.”

He added: “I can understand the leader is not happy about my decision to leave the group and I accept that the council’s constitution permits the leader to invent as many of these portfolio roles as he likes and award the 8,900 odd to whoever he wants, including his own household.

“Outside of politics, I can’t think of any other organisation that would permit this.”

Cllr Clewer maintains that although the portfolio has not been awarded in recent years, in 2020, the previous leader of the council, Philip Whitehead, appointed Cllr Chris Williams as Portfolio Holder for MCI, Communications, AONB, ESIF and Canals.

Regarding his decision to reintroduce the role, he previously told the Local Democracy Reporter it was a “sensible thing to do”, and was about putting the “right messaging across” to ensure people are “better informed.”

Speaking in support of Cllr Kirk’s amendment, Cllr Paul Sample said: “I think the values that I seek in those people around us who serve us on the committees are the values of accountability.

“We’re looking for people with integrity, we’re looking forward to being led by people with leadership, we’re looking forward to people who are honest, who are objective, who are open, who are selfless and who have respect for their constituents and those around them.”

“I have to ask myself whether it is appropriate that we are led by people who clearly do not support the Nolan principles of public life and demonstrate those values by their actions.”

The newly elected chairman, Cllr Bridget Wayman, asked: “Are you inferring that all the rest of us don’t abide by the principles of public life?

“It’s just a ridiculous thing to say.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Matthew Dean said: “I totally agree with the amendment because I just don’t think it’s unreasonable – if in the past we’ve offered two committee places for ungrouped members and the political proportionality of the council remains the same, then why shouldn’t we do that now?

“It seems a little bit unpleasant to remove that person who wants to serve on that committee because he’s had a falling out with the leader of the council.

“It seems to me that this is personality driven, rather than actually what is in the best interests of the elected member, his residents and this council.”

Cllr Clewer noted that Cllr Kirk had been offered two other places on different committees, including licensing, which he had refused.

He added that there has been “a queue” of conservative councillors seeking to join the Western Area Planning Committee for some time.

The leader did not support Cllr Kirk’s request, which eventually received 36 votes of support and 47 votes against it.