AN INVESTIGATION into the circumstances surrounding two donated hampers has uncovered “no wrongdoing” by controversial Conservative councillor Joy Redsell.
The councils legal department conducted an in-depth inquiry where both councillors and officers made sworn submissions as to what happened.
To re-cap: Just before Christmas 2010, the Tilbury-based Redeemed Church of Christ donated three hampers (Total value £75) to the three local councillors (Lynn Worrall, Bukky Okunade and Steve Liddiard).
The hampers were delivered to the council offices in New Road, Grays.
Cllrs Worrall and Liddiard decided to donate the hampers to the Mayor’s charity and filled in the appropriate paperwork. (Cllr Okunade kept hers and declared as appropriate).
In a report seen by YT, the circumstances of what happened to the hampers from there are detailed. It appears that a number of officers have had their identity protected but the same concession has not been afforded to cllr Redsell.
In a sworn statement, witness A states that: “Councillor Redsell had been helping myself and Mayor, Anne Cheale with her charities, in particular several raffles. Councillor Redsell told me that the Mayor had agreed that she could use these two hampers as part of a raffle at the Civic Dinner.”
In the report, witness A continues: “I do recall of hearing a conversation taking place between the Mayor and Cllr Redsell discussing replacing some items from the two baskets with better items and the Mayor agreeing with this course of action.”
However when the investigating officers spoke to the then Mayor, cllr Anne Cheale: “The former Mayor…indicated she could not confirm that this conversation had taken place.”
witness B said that cllr Joy Redsell entered the members service area with the two hampers and informed those present that the hampers were “not of a quality appropriate” for a Civic Dinner raffle.
The witness believes that this event was 30 minutes prior to a full council meeting. The date was possibly Tuesday March 1st.
According to witness B the goods were then offered to various members.
YT has attempted to check the veracity of this incident with Conservative councillors who were named as being there at the time. They either have no recollection, have not answered the question or not returned the phone call.
Witness B made their feelings known at the time and later in an exit interview days before they left the employment of Thurrock Council.
In the report it states: “The concerns (from witness B) were around the removal of items from the two hampers and their distribution in a group office which the former officer thought inappropriate.
“At this stage it appears that the matter was not progressed as it was confirmed that the two hampers had been reconstituted and this has been confirmed by that same officer,
Witness B stated: “I thought the matter had been closed when Councillor Redsell had gathered up the items and replaced those that were missing and made up two new food baskets to be raffled for the Mayor’s charities.”
The report goes on to state: “However the former officer clearly believes this course of action to have been inappropriate and / or insensitive although he does accept that Councillor Redsell informed him that she was replacing the basic contents to provide luxury hampers instead so they could be raffled and this would be out of her own pocket.”
Witness B recalls returning to work next day and seeing them “spread around the office”
A statement was taken from a Witness C who made reference to what had been stated by witnesses A and B.
The witness stated: “When Cllr Redsell saw the original hampers she commented that they needed something done with them and offered to do so; as she is very good with hampers I thought she intended to repackage them”
The report goes on to say: “This officer also confirms distribution of items in another group’s offices, that witness B had stated to her that Councillor Redsell “had redone the hampers” and offered the unwanted stuff for distribution. It is clear from both these officers that there was very little interest in the items and that they, “were rounded up and put in a cupboard in the Mayor’s kitchen.”
The report states that at this juncture, the mayor was apprised of the circumstances. In light of this, cllr Redsell “Decided, so as not to upset anyone, to simply keep the hampers as they were with the original foodstuffs, replaced items for those which had been taken, and rewrapped them and added some nice ribbons to make them look a little more attractive.”
The hampers were part of the raffle at the Mayor’s Civic Dinner and were donated to St Luke’s hospice.
The report concludes that:
1.At no stage has any party suggested or evidence been adduced that Councillor Redsell was acting other than with the intent of raising monies for the charities concerned although the appropriateness or sensitivity of her actions have been questioned especially by the former officer… although that former officer also confirms her intent to provide luxury hampers for the raffle at out of her own pocket.
2.The evidence on the balance of probabilities appears to support that Cllr Redsell was acting in the belief that she had due authority to replace some items with better items to achieve a successful raffle of the 2 hampers – although the matter could have been progressed more appropriately but no inappropriate motive has been suggested and in the light of the evidence no offence would be made out.
Conservative leader Phil Anderson has welcomed the reports findings:
He said: “I’m pleased that this report has been released in full, and that it is unambiguous that no wrong-doing has taken place. The picture it paints is an encouraging one, of councillors from all sides of the political spectrum working together behind the scenes to raise money for good causes in Thurrock. This is a side of politics that people don’t always get to hear about. It represents the best aspects of local politics, and it shows that the cynics are often wrong in their assumptions.
“With council officers having done a thorough and professional job in their investigation and councillors having been vindicated as a result, the only people left with any questions to answer are those who started these malicious and damaging rumours in the first place. Their use of facts was highly selective, and seems deliberately intended to smear individuals who were giving of their own time and resources to raise money for charity. As always, the identity and motives of those behind the original rumours remains unclear.”
The report confirms that every single item that was taken out of the hampers was put back in.
Blimey, this really is Hampergate, well at least the investigation is now concluded but I am sure that the Labour Lobby on here wikll still want to have their pound of flesh, all I can say is that whilst at local level it would seem that the Tories may have taken some itens out the hampers, at national level Labour took a hell of a lot more from the contries coffers 🙂
However when the investigating officers spoke to the then Mayor, cllr Anne Cheale: “The former Mayor…indicated she could not confirm that this conversation had taken place.”
So redsell in addition to her passed record a pillar of the community. So the former mayor is therefore untruthful. If the former Mayor declined to back Mrs. Redsell up in her statement how an earth does the investigation find theirs nothing to answer for this is why this should be investigated by the police dealing with facts. The facts are simple this was carried out without the mayors permission food was distributed amongst Tories and if permission was not gained its theft
Lambo so what you are saying its okay for the Tories to blatantly take items on the back of what Labour has done
Albert, Nope I am not saying it is right or fair and as has been proven over the past few years none of the main parties can be trusted with anything be that at local or national level, it just gets me that the Local Labour members suffer from short term memory loss when it comes to dishing the dirt, now how many Labour members were caught with their hands in the till? and how long did a certain Gordon Brown stick his fingers in his ears and pretend everything was all Ok with the country???
Lambo what i am saying the Mayor has said she could not confirm that this conversation had taken place.”
[With council officers having done a thorough and professional job in their investigation and councillors having been vindicated]
One or the other is lying the mayor or Redsell surely this is the only conclusion that can be drawn from the councils statement and I know who I would put my money on .I think it is thurrocks council officers that have there
fingers in there ears .Why not ask Your thurrock to get the Mayors side of the story
Probably a waste of tyme asking the Ex Mayor as they seem to be cocking a deaf one on this subject, they were either complicit in what went on or are just trying to keep out of the firing line.
Not much else is going to happen regarding this story as the investigation has been concluded and they ahve stated that there was no wrong-doings, best to leave it at that to be honest as no amount of arguing about who did what will have no effect.
Albert appears to have an agenda here other than commenting on ‘Hampergate’. He clearly has an intense dislike of Cllr Redsell and will use any subject on any post to make personal attacks against her. This whole hamper issue seems to have been blown out of all proportion. If Cllr Okunade is allowed to keep her hamper as an appropriate gift, what is wrong with items from the other two being distributed for use by other members of the Council? Especially when, as the report says, two hampers were made available for the raffle at the Mayor’s civic dinner. It seems to me to be ridiculous that we have had to have a (no doubt costly) investigation into what is an essentially trivial matter. It would have been different I suppose if no hampers had been raffled but they were. Would there have been so much fuss from Albert if it were a Labour Cllr who was accused? I very much doubt it.
Gray 64 , you are quiet right i have got the intense dislike of redsell everything i read on these blogs is Redsell meets property developer breaks code of conduct , Councill officers nothing wrong with that ,Redsell promotes lorry park nothing wrong with that , Redsell has 30year relationship with the owners of ICG forgets to make a personal predidicial interest nothing wrong with that. Step down from the planning commitee admits breaking the code of conduct, still sticks around. Now the latest tampers with hampers desting for a charity more or less calls the mayor a liar. You tell me Gray what is there to like about her tell me one thing? Tell me one thuing what she does that does not appear on this site, which she doesnt seem to be at the bottom of and less not forget her office at ICG which she now claims to be a storage facility but on her decloration quiet clearly states office and rent donated by ICG again no interest.
So grey tell me whats to like about her?because ive got nothing to declare on that one.
Albert, I offer no defense for Cllr Redsell. I don’t know the woman and, from what I read on YT she does indeed have plenty of questions to answer. However, that doesn’t really give you license to bang on about her at every available opportunity especially when she hasn’t done anything wrong in this particular issue. She may be guilty of lots of things and you have every right to shine a light on those but in this case she has been shown to be in the clear. If you think she still has something to answer for then you should be accusing the people that carried out the inquiry of being inept. Everybody that reads this forum knows you hate Redsell, it just does you no favours when you sling mud when it isn’t deserved.
It seems tha Cllr Redsell as something of a charmed life in the council offices at the moment.
She plays golf in the streets with no comeback!
She as clandestine meetings with developers with no comeback!
She “adjusts” the mayors hampers without permission with no comeback.
I wonder what the “teflon” councillor will get away with next?
Sort her out Mr Anderson.
The stench of Teflon Redsell was all over this squalid episode.
Some important lessons to learn from this whitewash.
Don’t bother donating anything to the Mayor’s Charity that is ‘cheap’ as Councillors can help themselves and take their pick of whatever you donate if one of them doesn’t think it is worthy to raffle and If your’e a Labour Councillor your donations will be handed out amongst Conservative Councillors.
Reading the report above it would appear two Labour Councillors donated two hampers around Christmas 2010.
In March 2011 the contents of these hampers were handed out amongst Conservative Councillors.
Several Council staff were aware of this. The Mayor found out and Councillor Redsell gathered up what items that remained and replaced items that had been taken home by Conservative Councillors.
Hampers then donated to the good cause.
Finally Councillor Anderson tries and spin the squalid behaviour of one of his Councillors into something positive. If he spins anymore on behalf of Teflon Redsell he will take off and land in the Thames.
Albert, this has to be one of the most insane set of comments you have ever posted. Have you even considered the possibility that the former Mayor GENUINELY DOESN’T REMEMBER A CONVERSATION?
You know, in the way that a busy Mayor, rushing between community events may not remember every single conversation she has with colleagues? Especially short ones about comparatively minor matters?
The constant attacks are becoming really rather annoying.
Ben are you seriously suggesting that Councillor Redsell said to the Mayor that she was going to hand out amongst Conservative Councillors the contents of two hampers donated by Labour Councilors?
It begs the million dollar question If Councillor Redsell thought Labour’s hampers were unworthy why she didn’t donate her own luxury hamper instead?
Strange that all the councillors in the office at the time Teflon Redsell handed out the contents can’t recall the incident or wont discuss what really went on. I wonder which Councillors took items home with them?
Ben Gadsby apart from you along with gray64 I think the rest of the bloggers think the same as me. .How about this one ben she was the Mayor do you think she would remember an important charity close to her heart and would this woman have upset the church by hurtful saying it wasn’t up to scratch for the raffle. Do you think joy would remember all the things i put in my blog all facts
promotes lorry park nothing wrong
30 year relationship with the owners of ICG
admits breaking the code of conduct,
office at ICG which she now claims to be a storage facility but on her declaration quiet clearly states office and rent donated by ICG again no interest
Redsell meets property developer breaks code of conduct
do you think joy REMEMBERS that.
It doesn’t stop her time and time again she disregards all the rules and keeps breaking them
Ben are you out of your mind you are putting yourself out for somebody that has no regards for any rules example what happened to the open investigation she asked for do you think the councils legal department would leave their selves in such a bad position Clarence S. Darrow could not even defend this woman she talks a good story but when it comes right down to it what do they do secret investigation behind closed doors. Another thing that strikes me Ben look at the time of Mr. Caseys post just gone 7am so was he told Friday or was he phoned exceptionally early this morning .How do we know the mayor was even asked
Albert, this isn’t about Lorry Parks, or developers, this is about hampers. I know you like bringing in random other things you blame Joy for, but let’s talk about hampers. You can be distrustful if you want, and I doubt I could change your thoughts on Joy even if I wanted to, but if you think the former Mayor would remember a conversation about raffle prizes, that probably lasted no more than a minute, and occurred over 18 months ago, you are, I’m afraid, potty.
Ben these hampers was donated 2010 (not 18 months ago 6 months ago you need to read the article before being discourteous to other bloggers who have commented on facts in the past Also Ben are you saying you think all the articles about this woman Redsell are all incorrect are you naïve dear) Councillor Redsell “had redone the hampers” and offered the unwanted stuff for distribution. To the conservative group On Tuesday March 1st.2011. In light of this, cllr Redsell as not to upset anyone, to simply keep the hampers as they were with the original foodstuffs, replaced items for those which had been taken”, with her permission? (Not the mayors) or Lyn worrell or Cllr Liddard did not consent to this action ( How must the church feel who donated these hampers they wasn’t good enough I suppose a lot of local residents would have been thankful for these at Christmas in this economic crisis .So these items did not belong to Mrs. Redsell so how possibly could she distribute them, furthermore is they were not hers to give away Simple in my opinion if I took something away that was not my property its theft NO BRAINER THURROCKS LEGALS MY OPINON
Thanfully young Ben Gadsby wasn’t elected as a Conservative Councillor. With his grasp of maths we would have been in real trouble. March 2011 to September 2011 isn’t 18 months young Ben. Apparently most kids are leaving school with a poor grasp of mathmatics, young Ben is a typical case.
Comrade Kent is apparently taking 15 grand a year from a cash strapped health authority for doing nothing. Now which is worse I wonder. And if he’s not getting 15 grand let him tell us exactly what he does get and how many times he has to sign in to get it. I bet it’s less times than they expect at the benefits office.
Clearly the former Mayor has simply forgotten this conversation – is that not at all plausible compared with all the theories you are coming up with? If I asked you all in a number of months exactly what your comments were, would you remember? I think not. You may comment on something else, and will have many conversations in those months. This is what you’re expecting of your former Mayor, who is only human. I don’t think any of you could begin to imagine her plethora of responsibilities! Are you going to continue to slam someone because they can’t remember a conversation, that would have been quite casual at the time, that lasted no longer than a minute? I think everyone really needs to look at the facts properly before they jump to conclusions. This has been blown out of proportion because of all these accusations. Clearly, somewhere, something as gone wrong, and what’s done is done, so let’s stop playing the blame game because it doesn’t appear to be getting anyone anywhere.
First of all, apologies to those people who have been upset by my inability to count in this case – you are right it is 6 months not 18 months. I did A-level maths at Palmer’s and for the record I blame fatigue not poor teaching for this error! 🙂
Any any event I am not sure this changes my fundamental point – someone doesn’t remember a short conversation from over 6 months ago. I’m not sure anyone on this site can remember every conversation they had in December 2010.
And why do people keep bringing in other things about Joy?! This is an article about hampers. The clear facts are that the hamper’s were for the Mayor’s charity, it seems that Joy wanted to increase there value for the charity in question and possibly this left a few spare tins of beans.
Witness A seems to recall the conversation between Joy and the Mayor, the Mayor does note recall the conversation (note – this is not the same as stating the conversation did not happen).
Joy was probably acting with the Mayor’s permission, or, if not, the Mayor had said something that Joy and witness A took as permission (so it’s not just Joy’s word here).
How likely is there to have been wrongdoing? Unlikely. The key point is that Joy has tried to act in the best interests of the charity, and probably had the Mayor’s permission anyway. There are real scandals going on in the world, I can’t believe people are seriously fussing over what is, at worst, a misunderstanding over a hamper.
Meanwhile, as upthereds says, the council leader pockets £15k a year of our money for doing seemingly very little. Why are you not up in arms Dave, Albert, Pat? Oh yeah, that’s right, you’re Labour people, and you’re only on here to attack Tories.
Feel free. I think most readers have the sense to realise you have a hidden agenda. Well Done Abbie Blogger for showing the only sign of common sense in these comments…
Ben Gadsby, Are you a joker or what your little friend Cllr Redsell is a joke she is part of the reason people think Thurrock council look after there own! look at what she has done or should I say hasn’t done for Thurrock!
As for the Leader Cllr J, Kent. pockets £15k I would ask what he is pocketing it for? Isit that he works full time for the borough? or isit that he is around trying to make this council more transparent? Or maybe isit just something YOU TORIES ADDED ONTO THE LEADERS SALARIES WHEN U LOT WHERE IN NOW HE IS GETTING IT? I call you a A REAL TORY!
Oh and by the way I am kinda Labour, I’m happy to attack the Tories all day long but believe me Labour also make there mistakes.
Thanks Ben! I do have to agree with Ben here. As I said before, this is a pointless argument because the outcome can’t be changed, however, accusations that really make no sense help no one and only blow the situation out of proportion (do I remember a casual conversation that I had months ago? No. I don’t remember casual conversations I had last week) especially because nothing indicates ANY wrongdoing. Unfortunately, most who are commenting are blinded by ignorance because they are too headstrong about their political beliefs. Ben, once again, is correct. Clearly this is a ‘let’s attack the Tories comment frenzy.’ I’m a Tory (feel free to read my lastest blog :P) but I would not generate false assumptions because of my political preference. What’s happened has happened, with no evidence of suspicious circumstances, so lets put things to rest with the facts presented before us and not most people’s bias assumptions.
Ben Look at her MO i think You have answered your own question
Ben hidden agenda.} Do you not feel the councils legal department have an hidden agenda they are a joke and why Mathematical genius like you keep taking it they will keep putting it out
{There are real scandals going on in the world, I can’t believe people are seriously fussing over what is, at worst, a misunderstanding over a hamper.}
Theft is not a worry Theft is misunderstanding BEN 2+2 in your Book is 5
Grays88, I thiny your comment regarding the reported £15k that Cllr Kent is getting has nothing to do with TBC, this would be for his position as a Non-Executive Director of Basildon Hospital, which from what is being muted that he has not attended that many meetings, so if it is correct that he is taking that amount of money from the local health authority for doing almost jack all then that is also theft is it not???
We all know that Albert has a gross dislike for Cllr Redsell and every comment over the past few weeks on the board has some mention of her, maybe he does not hate her at all, maybe he is a secret admirer of her 🙂 (sorry Albert couldn’t resist, lol)
The investigatin has taken place and they have ruled that there was no wrong doings by any party now rightly or wrongly the ruling has been made and nothing will change that fact, it is a bit like a lot of court cases which may not go the way you want them to…..
Comments are now closed on this article. No, we haven’t “been got at” Just think the matter may have been exhausted.