HOW breathtaking the hypocrisy of ex-town councillors who continue to denigrate the excellent work of Malvern Town Council, belittling its staff (Letters, December 26).

Not least when you consider that previous councils, of which they were members, were responsible for the lack of any kind of procedure whereby a town clerk could be held to account for their behaviour towards staff.

Had staff wished to raise a complaint, they would have been unable to do so. Any council that fails to deal with complaints once a policy had been put in place could face multiple claims for constructive dismissal – for which (unlike unfair dismissal) there is no limit to what can be awarded.

Given our lack of in-house resources, we took external legal advice every step of the way and, contrary to the mischievous assertion of the former councillors, we followed their counsel.

Ten lawyers will give you 10 different pieces of advice – that’s the law! But we acted in good faith on the advice given us, as the tribunal judge recognised.

These ex-councillors have spent the last year criticising me for acting without consulting council (completely untrue); they now criticise me for ‘hiding behind committees’ and not taking a sensible decision myself. Make up your minds – you can’t have it both ways!

Mr Chapman was not replaced when he left, but Malvern Town Council has never operated more efficiently or cost-effectively (Malvern Hills District Council please note).

That our staff are now glad to come to work is something I do not regret or apologise for.

Julian D Roskams

Mayor of Malvern