Mayor resigns after departure of council staff

Councillor Jackie Crozier said she was proud to have served Ripon as its first openly gay female mayor

The mayor of Ripon has resigned after a meeting was called to hold a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

Councillor Jackie Crozier, who was elected mayor earlier this year, stood down prior to the meeting on Monday evening, along with deputy mayor Gary Camplejohn.

In a statement she said it was with "deep sadness and disappointment" that she tendered her resignation but was "proud to have served this city as its first out gay female mayor".

Barbara Brodigan, one of the councillors who called for the vote, said it was prompted by the departure of three members of council staff.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the resignations followed last week's decisions by Andrew Williams and Peter Horton to stand down as leader and deputy leader of Ripon City Council.

Brodigan, who was voted to act as temporary chair at the meeting, said: "This doesn't look good for the council, but we are trying to bring the council back into a place where all councillors and staff are treated with respect and treated equally, and that has not been the case.

"We have been accused of being divisive, but we are the ones trying to sort it out and make sure we all work together.

"Recently, we lost three members of staff, including our chief operating officer, who has served Ripon City Council for nine years.

"The reasons for their departure have to remain confidential, but our action has been prompted by these resignations."

Jackie Crozier will continue to serve as a city councillor

Crozier said she had not been provided with any formal explanation or documentation outlining the reasons behind the motion.

"As elected members we are all entitled to our opinions with the ability to request a vote of no confidence. It's our democratic right," she added.

"It is a shame that my fellow councillors chose to raise their concerns in such a public and co-ordinated way, without first seeking private conversation, clarification, or context."

The former mayor said the situation had taken a toll on her mental and physical health in recent weeks.

She added: "It is also disappointing that my position as a female, out gay mayor -who also runs a business within the city - was not something more my fellow councillors felt able to support.

"I had hoped my time in this role would reflect a step forward in openness, inclusion, and modern leadership for Ripon."

In response, Brodigan said she categorically rejected the suggestion that the mayor's sexuality was a factor in the no confidence vote.

She said: "We're not homophobic in any way and we didn't want to replace the mayor, who we think has been doing a good job - we proposed the vote as a censure because of some of the things that have been happening."

It is understood that another extraordinary meeting will take place next week to select a new mayor and deputy mayor.

Crozier will continue to represent the Spa ward as a city councillor.

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