Town clerk given formal apology (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Town clerk given formal apology

5:55pm Tuesday 28th August 2007 in Chard By Steve Sowden

A FORMAL apology has been made to town clerk John Furze following on from a heated debate last month about the management of the tourist information centre in Chard.

A row erupted at Chard Town Council's meeting in July after Cllr Audrey Spencer claimed there were mounting problems with the management and running of the TIC which is based in the Guildhall.

And Mr Furze, whose role as clerk to the council involves overseeing the management of the TIC, said his position could have become untenable' if his job description changed as a result of the allegations brought by Cllr Spencer.

But the Mayor, Cllr Martin Wale, last week apologised to Mr Furze for the difficult situation' he had been placed in.

Cllr Wale said: "This council fully supports the town clerk and all its officers in matters of a managerial nature and we regret the very difficult situation in which Mr Furze was placed at our last town council meeting."

Last month Cllr Spencer circulated a letter to her council colleagues listing 20 grievances volunteer staff had with the management of the TIC.

It was agreed that Cllr Dave Keitch would liaise between the TIC management and volunteers to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.

Cllr Keitch said last week: "The process is ongoing and I will be making a full report at the next council meeting."