Cllr Lowe resigns from Executive Board with immediate effect due to ‘poor health’ – days after claims “inappropriate language” used in private meeting

Wrexham Independent Group councillor Joan Lowe has resigned from the Executive Board of Wrexham Council with immediate effect citing ‘poor health’.

Cllr Lowe who represents Pen-y-cae had been one of several councillors attending a private Corporate Land and Buildings meeting on Tuesday that was debating the future of the former Groves school site. The meeting was attended by a mix of councillors and Wrexham Council officers, and was private rather than a public council meeting due to the nature of the debate.

Wrexham.com had been told by some attending the meeting that a highly objectionable phrase had allegedly been made during the meeting by Cllr Lowe.

Cllr Lowe was the Lead Member for People – Health and Adult Social Care at Wrexham Council, and is the Deputy Leader of the Wrexham Independent Group.

On Tuesday we contacted Cllr Lowe, and Cllr David A Bithell who is Leader of Wrexham Independent Group, and who was also in attendance at the meeting.

Cllr Bithell told us, “I was at the meeting but was unaware of any inappropriate comments made and in what context they were made, nothing was raised during the meeting or highlighted.”

“I have spoken to Cllr Lowe as Group leader tonight and she has apologised if any offence was made during the meeting which as certainly not intentional. Cllr Lowe is a long standing member of the council and did not recall any comments. Cllr Lowe has apologised to members of the group if any offence was caused.”

Prior to Cllr Lowe’s resignation this afternoon we were told Wrexham Council’s Monitoring Officer had concluded her enquiries into the matter – with effectively no action taken. A spokesman for Wrexham Council told us: “The council’s Monitoring Officer has been made aware of the use of inappropriate language by Councillor Joan Lowe during a confidential meeting at which members and officers were present.”

“She has spoken to Councillor Lowe, who wishes to convey her unreserved apologies for the language used which was not directed at any individual and is deeply sorry if any offence was caused.”

Wrexham Council also told us that the meeting was not recorded.

At 3:25PM this afternoon Cllr Lowe told Wrexham.com , “Over the last few days I have reflected on recent events and decided to stand down from my position on the executive board due to my current poor health. I need time to concentrate on my recovery over the weeks and months ahead.”

“Cllr David A Bithell Group Leader said Joan’s health is her number one priority and we will continue to support her as a group.”

This is the second such resignation from the Executive Board by a member of Cllr Bithell’s Wrexham Independent Group, with Cllr Bill Baldwin resigning back in November 2019 ‘pending’ the outcome of an investigation into a series of posts shared by him on Facebook. No details or outcome of the investigation have been made public.

Cllr Bithell’s Wrexham Independent Group are now expected to put someone forward to fill the vacancy on the Executive Board, with what appears to be only four options remaining out of the group.