THE vice-chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny committee at Teignbridge District Council (TDC) has resigned amid ‘persistent infighting’ that he says has created an unsuitable environment for officers and staff.

Cllr John Radford announced his resignation on Tuesday, March 11.

In an email seen by the Mid-Devon Advertiser, Cllr Radford said that, despite achieving a great deal in the past year, the work of the committee had ‘become overshadowed by the continuing fall out between some councillors’.

The councillor for Kerswell-with-Coombe went on to say that ‘persistent infighting’ among councillors has created an ‘unsuitable’ work environment for officers and staff.

‘We are at a turning point’ Cllr Radford said.

‘If we continue down this path of division, we will fail those who elected us, we must rise above political differences, set aside personal grievances and work together, or we risk leading this council into dysfunction and failure’ Cllr Radford added.

Cllr Radford is one of the eight district councillors that make up the Independent Group.

It is alleged by Cllr Radford that there exists an ‘expectation that I will receive a post if I leave my political group’, or, in other words, leave or otherwise distance himself from the Independent Group and be offered a committee position.

This kind of behaviour was corroborated by another councillor in conversation with the Mid-Devon Advertiser.

This comes after Teignbridge District Council was confronted by external advisors about the conduct of its members.

Incidents included everything from swearing in the council chamber and shouting to muting one another’s microphones and walking out of meetings.

Beth Bower, a director of independent advisors Grant Thornton, said the behaviour was unlike any they had seen before in their experience of local government.