The interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has threatened to seek “legal advice” in the absence of an apology by a councillor during a heated chamber row.
Valerie Watts, who was appointed to the post in 2022 on an interim basis, said she may seek legal advice during Monday’s monthly meeting of the council in Ballymena as councillors discussed recycling centre opening hours.
A dispute broke out after Alliance Carrickfergus councillor Aaron Skinner proposed a motion for the council to consider a return to opening the borough’s recycling centres on Sundays.
The area’s last remaining recycling centre to offer Sunday services moved to a weekday and evening-only schedule in April.
The Alliance motion called for a review, for the local authority to take necessary steps to reopen recycling centres on Sundays, and to explore alternative options including midweek closures if cost savings were required.
Things became tense after an amendment to the motion – brought by UUP councillor Roy Beggs – was debated, to include a cost outline for ratepayers should Sunday openings return, and to outline the degree of restrictions should midweek closures take place.
Mr Skinner referred to the actions of the chief executive and another senior director during the amendment process, and suggested answers to questions on procedure were not provided by Ms Watts.
In a heated response, Ms Watts addressed Mr Skinner, and told him: “I cannot accept your comments, particularly in relation to me personally this evening, and I absolutely will be demanding an apology from you on that.
“And if the apology is not forthcoming, I will be taking personal legal advice on that, because you absolutely accused me of something that I have not done.”
As Mr Skinner responded, repeating his belief that questions were not fully addressed, other councillors could be heard calling out demands for his apology.
Ms Watts said she would “reflect” on the Alliance councillor’s response.
“I will go back though the minute and I will certainly, as I always do, question my own behaviour and my comments before I do anything else, but I do believe that I did answer your questions, I was not deliberately prevaricating on any of the answers.
“I wanted to be sure we answered them correctly, and the advice that was taken was correct. However, in the interests of being professional and trying to move this evening’s agenda forward, can we now move to the vote please?”
The amended proposal was backed by councillors.
Ms Watts, who was previously the chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, took up her role in 2022 after the previous interim chief executive, Mark Parkinson, departed after just three weeks due to ill health.
The council’s last permanent chief executive Anne Donaghy was suspended from the post in December 2021 as an independent investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment was carried out.
Her lawyer at the time said she denied all unsubstantiated allegations, and she also began legal action against the council on alleged discrimination and disability grounds.
Ms Donaghy, who held the post since the new ‘super council’ was created in 2015, officially resigned in September 2023 on health grounds.
In June, it was revealed Ms Donaghy faces prosecution for allegedly concealing records. Her lawyer, Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said in a statement on her behalf that she denies any wrongdoing.