Frank Minns has stepped down as mayor of Hadleigh and resigned from all his roles at the town council.

Mr Minns made the decision in the wake of last Thursday's council meeting, when he was called a fool and failed to gain any support from fellow councillors when he tried to assert his authority.

He felt this made his position untenable and his official resignation letter outlining his reasons was due to be sent out this morning, although it is understood Mr Minns had decided on Friday to join three other former Hadleigh Together members who have also quit this month.

He explained to Nub News: "Cllr Knock - by calling me a fool repeatedly and expressly saying he had no respect for me - broke the Code of Conduct about as comprehensively as it's possible to imagine.

"It makes no difference whether I or he was in the right about the matter under discussion; if the Chair can be so openly defied and insulted, we cannot conduct the business we have been elected to do.

"So I proposed that Cllr Knock not be heard. I didn't get even a seconder for my motion and it therefore fell at the first hurdle. I looked round the room, but not a single councillor would catch my eye. I have no reason to believe they would do their duty if a similar crisis arose at the next meeting, and that makes my position untenable.

"It remains to be seen if my successor will have any better luck. A number of councillors have since expressed their shame and regret to me, but it is too late."

Since becoming Hadleigh mayor in September 2020, Mr Minns reign has been dogged by controversy.

The former Royal Navy commander was severely criticised for not holding an investigation into Cllr Carol Schleip's admission to being prejudiced against service personal during the selection of the town council manager, when a highly qualified candidate was overlooked in favour of the team interim manger Cheryl Tye.

Code of Conduct complaints have been bandied about, some upheld, many not, regarding behaviour by councillors at meetings, and against Mr Minns over his style of managing.

He was also mayor when two former councillors, Richard Hinton and James Bayliss suggested all Babergh and some town councillors 'should be shot'. Both were found to have breached the Code of Conduct and asked to apologise.

More recently his actions over a solicitor letter sent to a resident on the instruction of Ms Tye, were brought into scrutiny, which was one of confidential agenda items meant to have been discussed on Thursday.

Despite restrictions due to the pandemic, Mr Minns has been active in representing the council around Hadleigh and during 2021, including Armed Forces Week, the opening of the new swimming pool at Hadleigh leisure Centre and the Christmas Market.

Mr Minns said: "I have loved every minute (well, almost every minute) of my time as councillor, and my 16 months as Mayor. People have said to me things like, "I've lived here 50 years and you are the best mayor we've ever had".

"I take comfort from that, even as I mourn the fact that so much work to make the council function properly and to raise the council's reputation has gone for nothing. 

"I will not stop working for the good of the town I love and for the people who have shown me such support and even affection, but it will not be through anything political."

Mr Minns has also been dealing with family issues, exacerbated on Thursday when his mum took a fall, and he dashed from the council meeting to attend her.

Elections to replace the four vacancies are expected to take place in April if 10 electors call for it, otherwise new members will be co-opted onto the council by existing councillors.

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