Talks on successor for suspended Whitchurch Town Council clerk

A troubled town council which suspended its clerk and has so far failed to find a permanent successor is in talks to bring in an interim replacement, it was claimed today.

The new arrangements are in the pipeline for Whitchurch Town Council, which suspended its present town clerk Peter Martin on full pay at the end of last year. Ever since, the council has turned to former Whitchurch mayor Ray Hatton.

He has been running the office under the job title of temporary office manager with support from assistant town clerk Zoe Dean.

Councillors were today staying tight-lipped about Mr Martin's position, but confirmed a candidate has shown interest in becoming interim clerk.

Members of the council's staffing committee, which hires and fires staff, have promised to issue a statement on the situation with Mr Martin, but none has been released so far.

Councillor Peggy Mullock, mayor of Whitchurch, dismissed claims from a fellow councillor that the town has struggled to attract candidates for the post of interim clerk following Mr Martin's departure.

She said: "We always said Ray Hatton was helping us out on a temporary basis.

"There is an officer at Shirehall who is very interested in becoming the interim town clerk.

"It will have to go to the town council's staffing committee, which I don't sit on, for a decision.

"We are looking at bringing this person in possibly as an interim clerk."

Asked whether he is about to be replaced, Mr Hatton said: "The original plan was for me to stay until Christmas, so I believe a new arrangement is imminent."

Town councillor Alistair Young today said he feared the town council's staffing costs could spiral if an interim town clerk is appointed while Mr Martin remains on full pay.