Onchan Commissioners have confirmed the departure of their clerk and chief executive Linda Radcliffe.

She was suspended in June last year on the grounds of misconduct amid ’allegations of bullying’.

Last week Onchan MHK Julie Edge took to Twitter calling for ’full transparency and [an] inquiry’ into what she sees as a problem at the local authority which is ongoing, at the expense of the ratepayer.

Chair of Onchan Commissioners Robin Turton confirmed Mrs Radcliffe ceased employment on January 7.

But he says he is surprised at Ms Edge’s claims of a ’tense atmosphere in the boardroom’: ’The board, I believe, work well together,’ said Mr Turton.

’We’ve had minor disagreements - I’d be very disappointed if we didn’t, because everybody’s got independent views.

’But at the end of the day, we reach a decision, and we move forward with it.’

He continued: ’Mrs Edge used to be a regular member at our board meetings, but she has been missing I think since her appointment as [education] minister - I’m sure the workload she’s got precludes her attending all the time.’

Mrs Edge had highlighted that the commissioners had lost three clerks in recent years.

Asked if he thought the issues were around staffing rather than the working relationship with the board, Mr Turton responded: ’It’s very hard to comment on staffing because as you know it is a private matter.

’And members of staff are entitled to have their business discussed in private.

’I think we’ve been unfortunate over the past couple of years, and I’m sure if you checked, quite a lot of authorities and government departments seem to have a period where they change people sooner than they would like.

’But I believe that we’ve now got a good working relationship and we’re going forward with all our staff who I think do an excellent job and provide a very good service for Onchan, and we will continue to do that.’

Mr Turton said that the commissioners wished Mrs Radcliffe well in her future career, but was unable to say the reasons for her leaving due to privacy reasons.

He said that at this stage her replacement had not yet been discussed, but that now the business of setting the new rates had been dealt with, that it will be ’the next major item on the agenda’ probably to be discussed at the next meeting on February 7.

Currently, the temporary acting clerk is Ross Phillips.

Ms Edge told the Manx Independent: ’Onchan Commissioners’ boardroom environment I feel is not conducive for effective governance and policy making for the ratepayers of Onchan.

’Since the new board were elected more and more agenda items are in private and against the policies the board members stood on for election and one of the reasons I don’t.’

She added: ’Minutes indicate "conduct issues" of board members costing the ratepayers many thousands. Full transparency and costs to the ratepayers of staffing and Board members conduct should be made public and I will endeavour to ensure this happens.’

She said that an external inspection is needed, and would call a public meeting in the future if required.

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