West Lindsey Agrees to Idemnify Legal Costs Former Chief Executive and Leader

The Market Rasen Mail is reporting that West Lindsey District Council has agreed to indemnify the legal costs of former Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bernard Theobald, Independent (Wold View Ward) and or retiring Chief Executive, Mr. Duncan Sharkey, who is taking up a new post with Worcester City Council, if either is sued following publication of a report by the Audit Commission.

The Audit Commission report, which is believed to be critical of Cllr. Theobald's leadership of the authority, was pre-published, as a draft, to those concerned, for comment before final publication, last November and the Audit Commission had been expected to publish the full report in December 2009.
It has not yet done so because of legal challenges by Cllr. Theobald whose successor Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) said West Lindsey would act as a 'shield not a sword' for Cllr. Theobald and Mr. Sharkey. The paper reports Cllr. Duguid as saying:

"If either of them are sued, we will pay up to £10,000 if they are defendants in proceedings.

"If they lose a case, they will have to repay any amount paid. This does not cover criminal proceedings nor actions by the Standards Board and it does not cover Cllr. Theobald's legal expenses in presently challenging the Audit Commission report."

It is understood that Cllr. Theobald will be meeting with his legal team this week.

Former Council Leader Continues to Lose Power and Influence

The Lincolnshire Echo is today reporting that Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward), who resigned as the leader of West Lindsey District Council last Thursday will lose his position on six local authority groups following his decision to resign.

Cllr. Theobald quit his leadership role on West Lindsey District Council last week after allegations were made against him and the authority.

The Lincolnshire Echo investigation highlighted that a planning application submitted by Cllr. Theobald to build a country house on land he part-owned was under investigation. His own deputy Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen), then called for him to resign on Wednesday last week. Cllr. Theobald has been suspended from the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association.

The independent Audit Commission is expected to publish a report on governance issues at the council by Friday while its planning department is also under investigation.

As leader, Cllr Theobald was responsible for representing the authority on the East Midlands Regional Assembly, Lincolnshire Assembly, Local Government Association General Assembly plus the Local Government East Midlands General Meeting.

The Lincolnshire Echo report that Cllr. Theobald is required to vacate these roles along with positions held on the West Lindsey Local Strategic Partnership and the West Lindsey Local Strategic Partnership Strategic Housing Board.

A spokesman for West Lindsey District Council said:

"The seat on these organisations belongs to whoever is leader of West Lindsey District Council."

Cllr. Theobald's chairmanship of another group - the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee - will be discussed at its next meeting in the new year.

The paper report that Cllr. Theobald declined to comment. Cllr. Theobald has blamed the Lincolnshire Echo investigation as the reason for his resignation. It is understood he is seeking legal recourse.