Council stunned as clerk resigns (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Council stunned as clerk resigns

Phil RiceMALMESBURY Town Council has been rocked by the resignation of its town clerk and financial officer Phil Rice after less than a year in the post.

Mr Rice, 59, from Milbourne, Malmesbury, announced his decision privately to town councillors after a full council meeting on Tuesday.

But yesterday Mr Rice confirmed he was leaving the job for personal reasons.

He said: "I've resigned for personal reasons but I would like to stay involved in the community."

His contract means councillors have two months to find a new town clerk, and it may not be an easy task.

Malmesbury Mayor Jacky Martin said: "I don't think people will be queuing around the block for the job. But we will find someone."

Mr Rice, a former commercial manager who has lived in Malmesbury for the last 18 years, took over the position last July and hoped to draw a clean line after the controversy with his predecessor Edward Ferguson.

Mr Ferguson had been employed by the council for 18 years but went on sick leave for six months because of exhaustion.

Despite his service, Mr Ferguson believes he was shabbily treated by the council and complained to the Standards Board for England that Coun Patrick Goldstone misled the council about his offer to return as clerk last in the month leading up to his retirement last July.

The Standards Board has since cleared Coun Goldstone of wrong-doing.

Reacting to Mr Rice's departure, Mr Ferguson said: "I'm sad to hear the news. It is the town that will

suffer because the town council has to advertise the post and that will cost money, all from a small tax base. To get quality people, and they were lucky to get Phil, they have to pay quality wages. I fully appreciate how difficult it is to deal with the raft of legislation affecting local councils. A town clerk is a jack of all trades and a master of one or two. At district council level, the chief executive has heads of departments, but the town clerk has to get to know the people in the county council and district council. I sailed that ship for 18 years and I'd sad because they had a first-class replacement."

Mayor Jacky Martin said she was saddened by Mr Rice's decision. "I am very sad. He is a workaholic and very friendly chap, but he has other plans."

Coun Andrew Woodcock said: "I deeply regret that he has had to resign. I don't know why he chose this moment to resign. He was doing ok in the job and seemed to be settling in."

Before becoming town clerk, Mr Rice worked as a consultant for local security firm Wansdyke.

He is an active member of the community, especially in the Malmesbury Youth Football Group and was also involved with the former Malmesbury Jackdaw newsletter.