There has been some questioning as to the content of emails and the timings of them around Cllr Charles Chapman deciding to leave the Island Independent group.
In an attempt to layout what is currently known, OnTheWight has gathered the following.
As some readers may already be aware, at 7.40pm on Friday evening, Independent county councillor for Ryde South, Charles Chapman, resigned from the Group of Island Independents via an email sent to all members (full text below).
Leader not contacted first
Leader of the council, Cllr Ian Stephens tells OnTheWight that Cllr Chapman didn’t contact him to let him know about his decision prior to sending the group email.
Fifteen minutes after Cllr Chapman’s all-members email, Conservative councillor for Ryde North East, Wayne Whittle, replied to Cllr Chapman’s email, possibly not aware that he’d hit ‘Reply All’, informing Cllr Chapman that “Chris is going to call you”.
Just over an hour
One hour and eight minutes after Charles Chapman’s original resignation email, members of the media received a Press Release from Conservative councillor for Newport West, Chris Whitehouse.
In this press release, Cllr Whitehouse wrote that Cllr Chapman had resigned and included a quote from him.
Cllr Whitehouse contacted OnTheWight stating that one of the sentences in this article (now removed) impugned his reputation. That genuinely wasn’t our intention and we apologise if what was written conveyed this. On this occasion, we clearly didn’t select the right words.
Chapman states he’s not joining ‘another party’
With the Conservatives having 15 elected seats and the Island Independents now, post-resignations, only having 16, there has been much speculation that if Charles Chapman joined the Tories, there would be a hung-Chamber at the Isle of Wight council.
Charles Chapman wrote to all members at 10:10 this morning (Sunday) to say “There has been assumptions that I am joining another party”. To clarify the situation, he said he would remain Independent.
His full email is reproduced below.
OnTheWight has been told by senior Island Independents that each member of the group signed a pledge when they started the administration, that stated if they left and joined another party, they would only do so once they had triggered a re-election in their ward.
The ‘gang of four’?
Cllr Chapman’s name was one of the four names that had been told to OnTheWight in connection with the alleged coup to overthrow the Independent administration by entering a voting pact with the Conservatives.
He joins Cllr Blezzard, Richard Priest and Jon Gilbey in recent resignations from the group (it’s understood that neither of the last two has actually sent a resignation letter).
Cllrs Priest and Blezzard denied any knowledge of the attempt to overthrow the administration when asked by OnTheWight.
Charles Chapman’s resignation email
—– Original Message —–
From: Chapman, Charles
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 07:40 PM
To: All Members
Subject: Indepentant ResignationTo Ian and Colleagues who were responsible for what appeared I the county
press and media Sites over the last 2 weeksWhat I perceived to be a good group meeting on Monday 8th of Sept and giving
you my support Reference your phone call to me on the 5th Sept I thought we
were all in a better place.However by Friday 12th Sept of that week after reading the county press, and
being informed of items on the internet , it became very clear to me and
others mentioned in the article, that We no longer were considered
trustworthy of being in the independent group.After thinking long and hard about this over the last 2weeks, I have come to
the conclusion with great regret, that I will be sending in my resignation
from the independent group to the proper officer as I understand this is
what is required of me .Regards Charles chapman cc Ryde South
Wayne Whittle to Charles Chapman and All members
—– Original Message —–
From: Whittle, Wayne
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 07:54 PM
To: Chapman, Charles; All Members
Subject: Re: Indepentant ResignationChris is going to call you
From: Chapman, Charles
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 07:40 PM
To: All Members
Subject: Indepentant Resignation….
Charles Chapman’s Sunday morning email
From: Chapman, Charles
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2014 10:10 AM
To: All Members
Subject: ResignationTo all members
Since my resignation form the independent group.
There has been assumptions that I am joining another party.
To Clarify the matter
I have the greatest respect for all party’s and have always believed in working “cross party” taking the best of what is debated, regardless of party Politics, so as to take the council forward , more so now with the unprecedented problems facing not only the IOW but councils across the country .
AS A INDEPENDENT I will continue to work for the betterment of my residents in Ryde south and the Isle of Wight, I hope this can now put the matter in a proper prospective.
Kind regards Charles
Charles chapman cc
Update 19:03: Paragraph removed, while under investigation.
23:43: Added apology.
Image: Flazingo Photos under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license
