MINEHEAD’s mayor Cllr Norman Hercock has been accused of sending “insulting and untrue” Facebook posts and emails concerning two Conservative town councillors.

It is claimed he has brought the office of mayor into disrepute with “bullying, slander and misogyny” – allegations he denies.

His predecessor as mayor, Cllr Jean Parbrook, and the current deputy mayor, Cllr Gail Everett, have reported Cllr Hercock to West Somerset Council assistant chief executive Bruce Lang, claiming that he has broken the town council’s code of conduct.

And they have asked for the matter to be referred to the district council’s standards committee.

Cllr Everett has told Mr Lang in a statement: “Cllr Hercock’s recent behaviour has involved bullying, slander, libel and misogyny towards me as a councillor and deputy mayor.

“Since defecting from the Conservatives to become independent, Cllr Hercock has wanted me to stand down as deputy mayor and shown me total disrespect.

“He resents the fact that I refuse to do his bidding and stand down.”

She claimed that the tone of the mayor’s emails to her were “intimidating, bullying and an attempt to discredit my good name”.

Cllr Hercock told Mr Lang: “At no time have I intimidated or bullied Cllr Everett or discredited her good name. If anything, since I changed over to being an Independent, I have been intimidated and bullied all the time.

“I have made positive moves forward within the town and have had lots of backing from the public. I have told only the truth and sometimes the truth hurts when you are faced with it.”

In her statement to Mr Lang, Cllr Parbrook said that on January 18 Cllr Hercock posted on his Facebook page an “exhortation to his followers to attend the full council meeting on January 22 when ‘all will be revealed’.”

Cllr Parbrook said: “I believe this was an act of intimidation against Conservative members of the town council in the hope of getting a crowd of his supporters for the budget meeting.”

She also complained about remarks that were “a personal insult and very unfair”.

Cllr Hercock maintained that what he said was true: “Cllr Parbrook has said on several occasions that she does not have anything to do with what the community does.

“But isn’t it the job of Minehead Town Council to help the community and get involved?”

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