Oakham Deputy Mayor Cllr Douthwaite Resigns in Dramatic Fashion
Oakham Town Council was the scene of an extraordinary and highly unusual event this evening as Deputy Mayor, Councillor Douthwaite, dramatically resigned from her post. The resignation, effective immediately, unfolded publicly and involved the Town Clerk reading out a highly unprofessional and sharply worded letter while Ms Douthwaite herself observed from the public gallery.
An Unprecedented Resignation Reading
The routine business of the Town Council meeting was disrupted by the announcement of Cllr Douthwaite's resignation. In a move described by some attendees as highly irregular, the Town Clerk took the floor and proceeded to read the full contents of Ms Douthwaite’s resignation letter aloud to the Council and those in attendance.
The contents of the letter reportedly deviated significantly from the standard professional courtesy expected in such documents. the letter was intensely "unprofessional and bitter in tone," and centered on a series of sharp allegations and personal insults directed towards an unnamed, currently serving Town Councillor.
"A Horrid Little Man"
The acrimonious nature of the letter culminated in a striking and inflammatory final assessment of the target councillor. Ms Douthwaite's resignation concluded with the scathing words, read out for all to hear: "He is not your friend and he is a horrid little man."
The unusual decision by the Town Clerk to read such a volatile document in its entirety, especially with the author present, has already sparked considerable debate about Council protocol and transparency.
"Good Riddance"
The tension in the chamber following the letter's reading was palpable. Immediately upon the Clerk concluding the final sentence, a swift and blunt response came from the floor. Councillor Brookes reacted to the dramatic exit by unequivocally stating: "Good riddance."
This single, sharp comment encapsulates the evident deep division and fractured relationships within the Council that appear to have precipitated the Deputy Mayor’s resignation.
The episode marks a turbulent end to Cllr Douthwaite’s tenure as Deputy Mayor and a dramatic low point for the cohesion of Oakham Town Council.
The Council will now need to address the vacancy for the Deputy Mayor position.
The events of December 10th have cast a considerable shadow over Oakham's local governance, highlighting internal conflicts that have now spilled into the public arena in the most sensational way possible.
UK Local Council Conduct and Resignation Protocol Guidance
The dramatic events described in Oakham Town Council raise several questions regarding standard local government protocol, specifically concerning councillor conduct, the public reading of correspondence, and allegations against serving members.
Here is a summary of the general guidelines and principles that apply to Town/Parish Councils in the UK, based on the statutory framework and best practice models like those from the Local Government Association (LGA):
1. Councillor Code of Conduct
The central issue of the Deputy Mayor's letter containing insults and allegations relates directly to the Localism Act 2011 and the Code of Conduct adopted by every Council (including Oakham Town Council, which has its own published policy).
Editors Note: Now that she has resigned the code does not apply to her it did at the time she was writing her letter. Local Government Law is a odd thing.
| Principle | Relevance to the Resignation |
| Respect | Councillors are expected to treat other councillors, staff, and the public with respect. The use of inflammatory language and personal insults ("horrid little man") would constitute a likely breach of the Respect element of the Code. |
| Integrity / Honesty | The Code requires councillors to uphold high standards. Making unsubstantiated or bitter public allegations, particularly in an official document, contravenes the spirit of these principles. |
| Leadership | Councillors are expected to promote and support the Code's principles by leadership and example. A dramatic and aggressive resignation sets a poor example for public office. |
