MINEHEAD Town Council’s longest continuous serving member resigned this week after nearly 25 years - and called on the authority to make a fresh start with new elections.

Former mayor and an ex county and district councillor, Terry Venner last week issued an ultimatum to the newly-elected mayor, Cllr Craig Palmer and his wife, Cllr Mimi Palmer, to stand down after the town clerk and two other senior officers had announced their departure, leaving the council in turmoil.

“I set a deadline for last Friday and when this was ignored I had no alternative but to announce my own resignation,” Mr Venner told the Free Press. “It is with much sadness that I have taken this decision after serving more than 24 years as member for North Ward, but I had no alternative.”

Mr Venner had previously sent an email to the mayor and other councillors in which he said: “I believe that the current mayor, Cllr Craig Palmer, and Cllr Mimi Palmer, have brought the council into disrepute, not only with the Minehead BID but with members of the staff, including the town clerk.”

The crisis came to a head when the town clerk, Ms Sam Rawle, resigned after three years, telling the Free Press that she could no longer work with the Palmers. This was followed by the departure of the two remaining senior officer, deputy town clerk Brian Howe, and admin assistant Julie Notley.

Former mayor Sandra Slade also handed in her resignation, reducing the council from 16 to nine members. There were no nominations for deputy mayor at the recent town annual meeting.

Mr Venner said that since issuing his challenge he had heard nothing from the Palmers. “I made it clear that I could no longer serve the people of Minehead with the current situation between councillors.”

He said that if Cllrs Craig and Mimi Palmer “would not take full responsibility for this terrible situation” he was left with no alternative but to resign from the council.

In his resignation letter Mr Venner said: “We all have a duty to uphold the principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. And always have respect towards our employees.

“Our employees are our greatest asset, and I believe we have failed to protect members of staff, and I apologise if I in anyway failed to intervene. We must all take responsibility for the current situation, but we just can’t carry on this way anymore. I truly believe the only way forward is to start afresh with new elections.

“I would like to thank all members of staff for their total dedication towards councillors, the council, and the whole community at large. You are all a fantastic asset.”

Mr Venner later told the Free Press: “My resignation means that eight councillors have now left -that’s half the council. The fact that councillors and staff have left in such numbers tells the story of what is happening at Minehead Town Council.”

Other councillors who have resigned in the past year are: Paul Bolton, Emily Jones, Michael Burke, Andrew Kingston-James, Toni Bloomfield and Carlos Gilberto.

“It’s a very sad situation. Once the clerk made public that fact that she couldn’t work with the Palmers I felt that we had to stand by our staff or it would seem that we were agreeing with what had been happening.”

This week another long-serving member, Cllr John Malin, paid tribute to Mr Venner’s contribution to the town.

Cllr Malin said: “I am deeply sorry that Terry, who has been a town councillor, district councillor and county councillor, and who has done so much for Minehead in those roles, had had to resign from the town council.

“We will all miss his experience, wise counsel and, most of all, his wonderful sense of humour.”

Cllrs Craig and Mimi Palmer were invited to comment on Mr Venner’s resignation but no response was received by the time we went to press.