Todd Baker resigns from Wymondham Council amid frustrations

Todd Baker, a councillor on Wymondham Town Council, criticised the authority for navel-gazing after he resigned his seat because of mounting "frustration" that meetings were not being dedicated to community matters.

Instead, he said the organisation was focusing too much on internal discussions about procedures, the way its members talked to each other and concerns about their own mental health.

He said the problems had got worse since the authority started introducing its 'red card' policy for councillors who felt they were experiencing high levels of anxiety.

Under the system, councillors can raise a card before going to a specially-designated room next door where they are provided with water and advice on 'grounding techniques', such as breathing exercises.

The policy thrust the council into the national spotlight and saw its members dubbed the "Wymondham Wets".

Former councillor Todd Baker (Image: Todd Baker)

Mr Baker, a Labour member who sat on the council for a year, said he voted in support of the proposals earlier this year but was increasingly concerned that too much valuable meeting time had been spent discussing them.

"We spent a lot of time on things like the red card system rather than things that would actually benefit the community and make a tangible difference," he added.

"I would sit in council meetings and feel like I was banging my head against a brick wall."

He added: "I didn't feel that I was able to work on the council in a way that would affect change.

"We spent a lot of time discussing how to communicate with each other rather than on local issues. I have a young family and my time would be better spent in different ways."

He was also disappointed to see his own ideas shut down by members, including plans to allow volunteer groups to use council resources such as tap water and meetings rooms - for which he was branded "elitist".

He said: "I was frustrated at the lack of willingness to embrace new ideas for change, lots of things were voted down based on the status quo or on party political lines."

WHAT IS THE 'RED CARD' SYSTEM? 

The new measures were brought in after Joe Barrett, a Green member of the council, suffered a "psychiatric emergency" at a meeting in February.

It was triggered by an incident which saw long-standing councillor Tony Holden step down with a 45-second resignation speech in which he accused fellow members of "achieving nothing".

Mr Barrett, who is autistic and has ADHD and PTSD, was not one of the targets of Mr Holden's accusations but said his words had caused him to have a "serious dissociative episode".

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Councillor Joe Barrett (Image: Joe Barrett)

The Green councillor said the unexpected criticisms had been "catastrophic" for him and the situation had been worsened by the lack of a "perceived means of escape".

"[Mr Holden] didn't do anything directly to me, but his behaviour broke our agreement as a council by making this attack," Mr Barrett said.

"That conflict was the cause of a serious dissociative flashback."

Former councillor Tony Holden when he was mayor of the town (Image: Sonya Duncan)

While Mr Barrett initially suggested red cards should be used, further discussions saw other councillors suggest they should instead raise their name cards, because of the "negative connotations" of red cards.

The incident led the council to be dubbed the 'Wymondham wets' after Mr Holden criticised the new measures, feeling the matter had been blown out of proportion. 

LATEST RESIGNATION

Mr Baker said: "I voted in support of Mr Barrett's proposals because he said his mental health was being impacted and the new system would help that.

"But we spent a lot of time on things like that rather than things that would actually benefit the community."

Mr Baker handed in his resignation in May after seeing several of his own proposals dismissed by the council. 

One of these included plans to bring in a 'Wymondham mark' which would allow some volunteer groups to use council resources such as tap water and meetings rooms. 

Todd Baker (far right) at a meeting of Wymondham Town Council's leisure, environment, enterprise and tourism committee (Image: Wymondham Town Council)

At a meeting where they were discussed, Lucy Nixon, a Lib Dem councillor, said: "I think this would offer certain rights and privileges to certain groups which we have designated by us as somehow being more worthy or important than others in the town.

"This is elitist and would be open to accusations of cronyism. We believe in inclusivity over elitism and we want to find ways to support the many volunteers groups in town - not just a few."

The proposals were voted down by Mr Baker's fellow councillors. 

Mayor and chair of Wymondham Town Council, Susanne Nuri-Nixon (Image: Suzanne Nuri-Nixon)

MAYOR COMES TO DEFENCE

Suzanne Nuri-Nixon, chairwoman of the council and mayor of the town, disputed the charge that her authority had become too introspective.

She added: "It's easy for Mr Baker to take potshots but there are two sides to every story - he was offered help to refine his proposals and he totally ignored it. There was a little bit of naivety in that.

"I refute what he says about us and believe it is important to have an inclusive council. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

"The bottom line is that we work for the people of Wymondham and they are what is most important."