Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Dubious and dishonest dealings, bullying and waste. Surely not?

A Wiltshire Council insider has spoken out regarding a culture of bullying, threats, dishonesty and incompetence. (S)he also claims that senior officers mislead councillors in reports about the Resources Department, and raises concerns about the number of contract staff being used by the council.

The actual text of the email says

'Many of you will be unaware of these facts, although I am sure some of you are either aware or suspect, but the new unitary organisation that was created from the ashes of the previous councils is rapidly becoming a sad and dishonest place.

There is a culture of management bullying based on threats of unemployment and recession, dubious and dishonest dealings by members of the management team, and waste on a previously unprecedented scale caused largely by incompetence, and all of this is being disguised by 'change' and 'reorganisation'. The Bourne HIll project underlined that and the end result is flawed.

The culture of bullying and threatening from middle management to staff of all lower levels needs addressing. Staff who are at threat in the current climate should not be threatened with loss of employment for trying to do their jobs properly. 'If this gets out you are sacked' is not an acceptable management response to a technical issue or problem.

I also suggest you all look much closer at your internal resources department. Do not assume the reports are accurate but look for the facts.

In the current economic climate it's interesting to note the number of personnel including the current "IT Director" who are contract staff.

I apologise for contacting you in this way but to do so internally in the current climate would be likely to result in unemployment.'

Work needs to be undertaken urgently by the Conservative administration to get to the bottom of these accusations.

Meanwhile, a senior Conservative councillor has asked us not to respond to the email, but I would imagine that few, including me, will heed the request.