5th April 2022

Dear John,

After the 2019 Election, I was very pleased to be invited to join BDC Cabinet as the Environment Portfolio holder. Many years ago in response to the Waste Oil Regulations I set up an automotive recycling company where I worked closely with the then Environment Agency as to how the new regulations could be rolled out and implemented. Consequently, the invitation to work on Climate Change and Biodiversity was very exciting.

It was equally exciting to be working with and supporting a Cross Party Rainbow Cabinet, since life is about compromise and as a Cllrs we serve all our constituents by working together.

Hence when I was sacked from the Cabinet in favour of Cllr Dawson I was more than a little disappointed. I had been a Conservative for more than 50 years ergo my decision to leave and become an independent was not taken lightly. However the irony was that I was now free to be able to follow National Government Policy with regards to Climate Change and BioDiversity even as an Independent because it makes sense.

As a Rainbow Coalition we worked very well and achieved a lot however things changed, you increased the numbers on Cabinet from 8 to 10 bringing two new Conservatives onboard which resulted in my Portfolio being split when I joined the Independents and was then re-appointed to Cabinet in order to maintain the cross party political balance.

But this arrangement has not been working well and yesterday to hear of Cllr Davies removal from Cabinet because the Conservative Group do not like the fact he is employed as a journalist is just beyond the pail. In my opinion it is an attack on free speech, a shocking position for a political group to uphold.

It saddens me to see where we now are, I thank you for the opportunity to have served, I thank all the officers with whom I have worked a big thank you.

I wish you well but do not feel overly confident that matters within your group will stay as they are since it is personality led which never ends well. It has been a great privilege to work with them.

Take care John.

Kind regards

Liz Malvisi, Cllr.