An ex Hadleigh town councillor has called on two of her former colleagues to resign after prejudicial comments were made against ex-service personnel during an interview process.

Angela Gregg spoke as a member of the public ahead of the monthly council meeting via Zoom last night, questioning Cllr Carol Schleip's comments, and the way Cllr Frank Minns had handled the matter.

Cllr Shleip admitted being prejudice against former soldiers while Cllr Minns refused to hold an investigation into the matter, and used his casting vote to defeat a motion calling for the actions at the staffing sub committee to be looked into.

Cllr Andrew Knock had argued, while the issue with Cllr Schleip was not a code of conduct matter, the town council could still hold its own internal investigation at little cost, but Cllr Minns had dismissed that and voted against it.

However, it was confirmed during last night's meeting by Babergh's monitoring officer Emily Yule that the town council DID have the power to hold an investigation but had advised it may not be the most effective use of public funds if costly external advisors were used.

Mrs Gregg said in the public session: "Two members of the then staffing sub committee were accused of saying inappropriate things during the interview process. One was that they were prejudice against against ex-military personnel and the other for asking a candidate about their current situation.

"It was asked by myself that an investigation into these inappropriate comments that were allegedly made, were looked into by means of an internal investigation but the mayor has refused to action this. Can I ask if an investigation will be held or this another incident that will be swept under the carpet and ignored?

"Can I also ask if Cllr Schleip and Cllr Minns are going to resign their positions as councillors because of the cover up?"

Her call comes after a number of people on social media suggested Cllr Shleip should resign due to her actions.

Mrs Greggs also referred to a comment made by Cllr Minns to Nub News when he said in response to a query, that the staffing sub committee was dissolved because the council did not have enough members with the necessary HR skills to man it. However, the committee was dissolved before Mrs Gregg stood down as a councillor therefore still had the same members.

She asked council: "My understanding is the staffing sub committee was dissolved due to concerns over how it handled recruitment. Did the mayor mislead the public with his statement?"

Cllr Rolf Beggerow, standing in as chair for Cllr Minns who missed the meeting due to illness, said the council would get back to Mrs Gregg.

That was consistent with last night's proceedings when questioners Roger Young and Jo Sheldrake were told the council would respond after the meeting to their queries in regard to finances for the Hadleigh cemetery project by Mr Young and a request for a memorial in the town centre by Ms Sheldrake.

Cllrs Schleip and Minns have been approached for comment.

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