Outspoken Whorlton village councillor threatened with 'probation'

TENSIONS between an outspoken village councillor and his colleagues have hit a low.

Whorlton and Westwick Parish Council discussed putting Cllr David Kinch “on a 14-day period of probation” after he allegedly threatened to complain about its practices.

Clerk Jonathan Dickinson told last week’s meeting how a couple of councillors were concerned about Cllr Kinch’s intentions to complain.

“The concern was whether Cllr Kinch was an appropriate person to represent the council if he was making complaints,” added Mr Dickinson.

Cllr Kinch, who has recently joined the council, defended himself.

He said: “If I think there is something wrong I will complain – I would have thought I have a right to complain if I so wish – unless the law of the land has changed.”

Cllr George Stastny thought the probation was appropriate. He said: “I feel it’s an honour and a privilege to represent the council – Cllr Kinch has just joined the council recently, and of course none of us are elected, so to my mind I think there should be a probationary period before we consider his position as a representative of the council.”

Cllr Kinch hit back with a technicality.

He added: “We were elected – we are classed as elected, all seven councillors are elected – that’s what the law says.”

“Elected with no votes – it’s semantics,” replied Cllr Stastny.

With only four council members present, chairwoman Cllr Lucy Hoskyns-Abrahall suggested a decision should be made when more councillors were present.

She added: “It’s a question of a majority of parish councillors’ relationship with you.

“You represent views to other bodies which is absolutely fantastic but everyone needs to be fundamentally comfortable with that.”

Cllr Kinch attends the Teesdale Residents and Travellers Forum as well as a series of Durham County Council groups away from Whorlton and Westwick.

The matter will be discussed at the council’s September meeting.