An authority has been accused of doing its 'dirty laundry in public' after a member was told she acted with 'poor judgment' during disagreements over a village phone box.
During the Broads Authority meeting yesterday, it was recommended that Lana Hempsall, a Broadland District Councillor, should not be reappointed to the planning committee for the coming year.
Peter Dixon, chairman of the committee, claimed Mrs Hempsall had acted 'inappropriately' towards a planning officer who advised Halvergate Parish Council their desire to turn a decommissioned phone box into a public feature was a material change of use - and required a planning application.
Mr Dixon claimed she held the officer 'up to ridicule' - something Mrs Hempsall denied.
She said: 'What Peter is referring to is my disagreement with a decision on advice given by a member of staff on a telephone box.
'I sought extensive alternative advice and I attempted to have a discussion, a reasonable calm discussion, with a member of staff involved in making that decision.'
Mr Dixon also referenced posts on social media by Mrs Hempsall, in which she stated her objection.
He said disagreements should be handled 'quietly and behind closed doors', rather than 'undermining the committee'.
After member Nigel Dixon said Mrs Hempsall had acted with 'poor judgment', she described the meeting as a 'character assassination'.
She said: 'This issue involved private correspondence and was a private matter - we don't need to do our dirty laundry in public.
'I think the telephone box decision is ridiculous and I stand by that - I am allowed to have an opinion as an elected person and member of this authority.'
The recommendation not to reappoint was supported, but several members said they felt uncomfortable doing so until they had all the facts.
The monitoring officer was asked to collect posts and emails to present to the authority at a later date, when a final decision would be made. Until then, the vacancy on the planning committee will be held open.
• Do you have a Broads story? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk
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