AN INCENSED Stratford district councillor has sworn to wear a hat to meetings until he receives an apology from the council leader.
A war of words broke out at a recent full council meeting between independent Southam councillor Tony Bromwich and leader of Stratford District Council Coun Susan Juned over the setting of this year’s budget.
Matters reached such a head that Coun Bromwich accused Coun Juned of running “almost a dictatorship”.
Coun Bromwich claimed that in reaction to his concerns about residents struggling with the cost of living, Coun Juned insinuated that as a councillor he did not do enough to help the most vulnerable residents of Southam. An accusation he refuted.
He said: “In nearly ten years as a district councillor I have dealt with many of the most vulnerable in the community I represent giving them help, guidance, support and advice. I have never shirked the challenge of the vulnerable people regardless of age in Southam.
Fellow councillors across the political divide were indeed shocked at the verbal assault of Coun Susan Juned.”
Coun Bromwich continued that when he asked Coun Juned to apologise for her remarks, her response was “nothing more than a self-gratification of Susan Juned and a lecture almost suggesting we should all be Susan Juned”.
He continued: “I gave Coun Juned a second chance to apologise, again the response was nothing more than a self-gratification of Susan Juned and a complete failure to recognise the issue raised. That is not leadership, it is almost dictatorship.
“In nearly a year as leader of SDC, Coun Juned has repeatedly not answered questions put to her and instead, massaged, in my view, her own ego. This almost megalomania tendency is disrespectful of elected district councillors and the residents of Stratford district. It is time Coun Juned is held to account.
“Due to the total disrespect shown to myself by Coun Juned, I will now be wearing a hat at each council meeting as a symbol of the shame of Coun Juned until such a time she either issues a public apology and finally starts answering questions rather than give sermons or she is replaced as leader of SDC.”
Coun Juned told the Observer: “I understand that all councillors care about their wards and are passionate about supporting their residents. I have a lot of experience as both a councillor and in my professional life that I hoped would be of assistance to Coun Bromwich and to residents.
“There was certainly no intention to cause any upset. We all are in public service and must at all times remember this and conduct ourselves accordingly.”
