Villagers told: 'Councillor cannot be forced to resign'
A PARISH councillor convicted of racial harassment cannot be forced to resign, villagers have been told.
Angry residents called for Nicolette Tossell to quit at a heated meeting of Combe Martin parish council.
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IN COURT: Nicolette Tossell.
The demands came after Cllr Tossell and her husband Raymond were found guilty at Barnstaple Magistrates' Court of racially abusing Anthea Slade, a mixed-race woman who lives in the village.
Several villagers turned up at Monday's meeting of the council to demand Cllr Tossell's resignation, but she failed to appear.
At the start of the meeting the council chairman Julia Clark, equipped with a microphone and speaker, read out a statement: "Despite recent events, which were a private matter and did not involve the parish council as a body, everybody, no matter what their ethnicity, place of birth or disability, will be treated with the same respect and understanding by this parish council."
Several angry villagers then stood up to ask versions of the same question — if Cllr Tossell would not resign, why wouldn't the parish council make her?
Each time the questions were met with the same amplified response: "We cannot, for legal reasons, go any further on this matter. I hear what you are saying, but we cannot discuss this further."
Claire Mountain stood up to ask why the council would not answer certain questions.
Cllr Clark replied: "Sometimes we can answer the questions, sometimes we can't."
People then called on the council to report Cllr Tossell to the Standards Committee which investigates the behaviour of people in public office.
Cllr Clark said: "We have been in touch with the monitoring officer, and that is as far as I will go on this subject. We have consulted the monitoring officer all along.
"This council has not complained to the monitoring officer. Individual councillors may have complained. You as the public may complain. But she does not have to resign. That is up to the individual councillor, we cannot legally force this councillor to resign."
One man said: "This woman was racially berating a member of the public over a car parking issue."
But his comments were drowned out by Cllr Clark who said: "Ken, I am going to stop you. I am not going to retry this case now and I'm going to get cross if you make me. We cannot as a council force anybody to resign, we have to treat everybody the same."
A member of the public quipped: "Unless they're black."
Cllr Clark said: "We have done everything that is legally correct."
A resident shouted: "But you haven't done the right thing — she should resign."
Cllr Clark repeated: "We cannot force her to resign. There is no whistle-blowing protocol in place anymore, so we no longer have to blow the whistle."
Cllr Eric Hughes, taking the microphone, said: "I would just like the public to know that it isn't all councillors who approve of this."
Cllr Clark added: "None of the council approves of this — but we are not going to re-try this case here."
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by fef up, combemartin
Thursday, April 30 2009, 9:52AM
“Also i believe most of the witchhunting is carried out by this newspaper, as it doesn't want to leave this story alone ie this is now the third week there has been something published about this item isn' there anything more important going on in world?!!!!!!”
by adrian, combemartin
Thursday, April 30 2009, 9:40AM
“I thought kangaroo courts, whitchunts &vigilantes were consigned to history, obviously not in North Devon there are a lot of small minded people out there”
by worried, 21st century multicultural britain
Tuesday, April 28 2009, 9:18AM
“How apt is it to now begin quoting the 500 year old writings of Martin Luther? Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933¿45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.”
by Digusted, disappointed and sad, The village
Monday, April 27 2009, 6:21PM
“7.19 pm - Well, mob rule wins! It's a sad day for the village. Nicky, hold your head up high and forget it now, my love. Just concentrate on getting better. To those of you who've been grizzling on about how ill Saint Anthea is in her 'new location', she's not the only one. Nicky has been made just as ill. and before you say she deserves it, you don't bloody know that so just shut up! You've got what you want so maybe now you'll leave her alone. I'll bet you all have a damn good gloat first though. This board will be awash in a minute with you all patting eachother on the back over a job well done. You're pathetic - every last one of you!Sorry you weren't the first to know Glynn. That must break your heart!!”
by local cm, cm
Monday, April 27 2009, 6:04PM
“7.02pm ,3 minutes and counting down to the fall out, icant wait.”
by Penny, Ilfracombe
Monday, April 27 2009, 5:57PM
“Chrispy Duck. For Pity's sake, man. I KNOW there was no mention of a yacht in St. Tropez. That was the whole point! Don't you recognise irony when you read it? You know what p*****s me off? I can't do right for doing wrong, can I? I've just spoken up for the village and I'm STILL getting it in the neck!”
by Penny, Ilfracombe
Monday, April 27 2009, 5:45PM
“Just one Cornetto! You poor souls. The village must be in a state of panic. I'll start a collection of candles and tins immediately. Wartime camaraderie is what is called for in these situations. We've called an extraordinary meeting ourselves to discuss the possible fallout from this cancelled holiday booking. The trouble is, there's no precedent for this - what with it never having happened to us before! We CAN survive the coming winter but only if everyone stays calm. Go forward with courage, my friends!”
by Just one Cornetto!, Worried local!
Monday, April 27 2009, 5:32PM
“All for fairness. Please, tell us it's not true! There's another meeting tonight and we were going to discuss the recent events but they've been sidelined for this new emergency. We're now going to discuss how we'll manage this winter without you buying your Cornettos for a fortnight. Penny, if you've got any spare candles in Ilfracombe we'd be very grateful!”
by Penny, Ilfracombe
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:44PM
“All for fairness, Holiday maker (your income). How dare you! I'm not a Combe Martin girl as you can see and I have made my feelings on this matter clear - including my disgust at the small-mindedness of A FEW individuals. However, the vast majority of the Combe Martin population are decent, honest and hard-working people who are not involved in this sorry case in any way, shape or form. What you read here by no means represents those people. If you have taken your custom elsewhere then you are the loser. Combe Martin is a beautiful and welcoming village and a lovely holiday location. By judging everyone by these few you have shown yourself to be every bit as narrow-minded. How dare you sign yourself as '(your income)'. How arrogant and pompous. Yes, we are a tourist area and yes, that imput is a very valuable element of our economy but it is by no means our soul source of support. Do you imagine that we all sit huddled round candles for the rest of the year waiting for you to pack your swimsuit again? We are a thriving area in MANY ways and for you to tell the people of Combe Martin that you are their icome is nothing short of an insult. It sounds to me as though your cancellation has given them a lucky escape as there are some holiday makers we dread seeing because they treat us as you have just done - as though we are poor country yokels who can't manage without their magnanimous generosity. Perhaps you would be better to stick to your yacht in St. Tropez!”
by Courtney Fish, combe martin
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:19PM
“Mary Hinge:
Why would people do that??”