A councillor has been praised for her quest to get to the bottom of what was going on with the aborted Lyme Green project.
A report compiled by an independent investigator found that the questioning of officers by Coun Hilda Gaddum, pictured, who represents Sutton, was a ‘fine example’ of a councillor representing their residents.
The report says: “The first effective public consultation was arranged by the local ward councillor – Hilda Gaddum – [who], in terms of her actions in this matter, is an impressive and fine example of a ward councillor acting in the interest of her local community.”
It goes on to say: “Coun Hilda Gaddum clearly had grounds to be particularly disappointed over the way in which this project emerged in her ward.
“She clearly felt misled by the management of the project and the assurances that she was given by officers of the council at various stages.
“I have immense sympathy with the public, and also Coun Hilda Gaddum, because it must have been incredibly frustrating to be able to see what was happening on the ground and receive communications from the council which were clearly not representative of that.”
Responding to the findings, Coun Gaddum said: “I was very grateful to the Designated Independent Person for his kind words. I had been asking questions and I do feel I was misled.
“This was very new to me so I was very shocked by it. So I’m very glad the DIP has come to that conclusion. Lyme Green should never have happened.
“However, hopefully this will make things so clear and robust that we can all move on, as it has cast a shadow over the whole council.”
