Silenced! Correspondent’s questions to council chief executive remain unanswered

TAMESIDE Council’s chief executive has been gagged from answering questions probing what is claimed to have been an apparent breach of rules – and the effect it may have on the elections.

Steven Pleasant did apologise for comments he made on Twitter in a now-deleted post.

A clip from BBC’s Question Time showed an audience member who voted for the Tories telling minister Damian Hinds his government is a ‘disappointment’.

Pleasant replied, saying: “She was good. Tory voter with compassion and empathy for others. Who knew!”

However, Tameside Council was contacted by The Correspondent with a series of questions relating to the local elections he will run.

This paper, via email to the communications department, asked: “What would you say to people who feel your Tweet has eroded trust in you?

“Do you feel what you Tweeted may change the public perception of you and/or the authority? If so, should it?

“What would you say to those who say you cannot or should not be returning officer at the forthcoming elections?

“Do you feel you overstepped the mark, blurring the lines between personal and professional sentiments?

“How has the Government’s actions affected your role and what you can do?

“Do you regret making the Tweet?

“Do you feel what you Tweeted means some elected councillors will view you with suspicion?
If they do, how does that make you feel?

“What has the reaction been of non-Conservative members of Tameside Council?

“What would you say to Conservative members or supporters who have not accepted your apology?”

But the council, which was contacted on more than one occasion, as well as Mr Pleasant personally, would only say: “After seeking external legal advice, we cannot comment until after the election.”

Almost immediately after the tweet, members of Tameside Council’s Conservative group complained.

Mr Pleasant apologised but explained the views he expressed specifically referred to his frustrations about central government support for refugees.

In an email, Mr Pleasant said: “The words I used were not considered and I accept I should have worded any sentiments very differently, hence my deletion of the post within minutes of posting.

“That does not excuse me posting it but hopefully a recognition that it was a mistake on my part.”

Conservative group leader Doreen Dickinson said Pleasant had ‘broken all the ethics’. The Correspondent understands there was a meeting with Mr Pleasant, at which he further expressed his regret.

But while she had accepted the apology, other members of her group have not – and still have not after the further meeting.

Cllr Dickinson said: “Chief executives have to work with all parties. They’re supposed to be neutral.

“I’m very, very disappointed. And I’m not the only one. I’ve had people get in touch with me from other authorities.

“It’s shocking behaviour from the chief executive. I’ve accepted his apology, but I’ve got to work with him – how can I not?”

A Tameside Council spokesman said: “The chief executive posted a response over twitter to a debate on BBC Question Time reflecting his frustrations with central Government response to supporting Ukrainian refugees.

“He recognised it was inappropriate and deleted it within minutes.

“He issued an apology to the Leader of the Tameside Conservatives and her group, which she has accepted.”

As returning officer for the election of councillors, Mr Pleasant is responsible for running the upcoming elections in Tameside.

However, his duties are separate from those as a local government officer and is not accountable to the Tameside Council, but to the courts as an independent statutory office holder.

Tameside Council leader Brenda Warrington said she considered the matter ‘concluded’ but The Correspondent understands the ramifications may continue for some time.