A PARISH has been left with an administrative void after every member of its rates committee resigned from the role.
The five officials making up the St Clement Roads Committee stepped down from their positions en bloc in the wake of a dispute.
A source in the parish with knowledge of the dispute told the JEP that the members of the committee had expressed concerns about a “heavy-handed” interpretation of data protection by a member of parish staff, which was hindering their ability to function.
“Everyone knows that data protection is an important area and that there’s guidance about it which needs to be considered, but the way it’s been interpreted has been very heavy-handed and restricted the committee’s ability to carry out its role,” the source said.
The issue is understood to have been brewing over the summer, culminating in the quintet resigning in August following the parish assembly at which the 2026 rates were agreed.
The parish source said that while September and October were normally quiet periods in the rates calendar, the rates committee would typically be beginning its preparations for the following year in November and December, prompting concern about how the issue of rates would be handled without a committee.
Constable Marcus Troy confirmed to the JEP that the officials had left their posts, adding that discussions were ongoing.
“I have returned after being away, and this is something I’ll be discussing with the relevant people,” he said. “It’s not something I’m prepared to comment on until those talks have taken place.”
St Clement Deputy Karen Wilson said she was aware of the situation, including the Constable’s efforts to deal with it, and hoped that there would be a resolution prior to the parish Deputies’ regular public meeting scheduled for the last week of October.
