Spalding ward member speaks of loss of faith in council leadership
An ex-member of South Holland District Council’s ruling Conservative group has spoken out after going independent.
Coun Jack McLean, of Spalding St John’s ward, admitted “I no longer trust the leadership” of the council after losing two of his roles at a group meeting last month.
He was sacked as an executive support member, or assistant, to the cabinet members for communities and place, also losing the role of vice chairman for the council’s Policy Development Panel, which helps decide how council-tax funded services are provided.
In response to Coun McLean’s decision, Conservative group and council leader Coun Gary Porter said he was sorry to lose “a really good ward councillor”.
Coun McLean, who is staying on as a South Holland and the Deepings Conservative Association member, said: “I left a little bit of time before I made the announcement that I’d left the district council’s Conservative group.
“It’s been difficult to keep people informed because there’s so little I can say, compared to what I want to say.
“I’m trying to play things down and concentrate on my community projects, but I no longer trust the leadership of South Holland District Council.
“I’ve always been loyal to them and I’m still a Conservative, but during my time on the council I’ve found that public pressure is the greatest motivator for change and party loyalty is a hindrance.”
Coun McLean, who was first elected as a district councillor in May 2015, also resigned as chairman of the Spalding Town Forum - an alternative to a parish/town council made up of councillors with wards in Spalding and representatives from organisations in the town.
He said: “I’ve had issues with the leadership in the past and it’s been an evolving situation for some time, but I didn’t want there to be any question about my integrity.
“I made my case before the sackings and I put my position across at the Conservative group meeting last month.
“But all it did was show me how little my years of faith and contribution to Conservatism was worth.
“I was thrown under the bus and so my plan is to spend more time returning to community projects and representing my ward.
“Becoming a truly independent voice on the council will suit me because I don’t want to rush myself into a situation where I’m tied down by loyalty to a political group.”
Coun Porter said: “As far as I’m concerned, Jack McLean is a really good ward councillor and I didn’t want to lose him.
“I’m not sorry for having him in the group and in a few years time, I have every confidence that Jack will be a very good man in the high part of an organisation."
