Thanet council’s cabinet member for operational services Suzanne Brimm is to be removed from her post despite refusing to resign.
The Birchington mum-of-two says she received a call from council leader Chris Wells on August 10 saying she should step down.
The former electrician and mum-of-two said: “The leader of TDC, Chris Wells, has asked me to resign from my post as Cabinet Member for Operational Services with immediate effect.
“I understand he plans to replace me with Cllr Stuart Piper.
“I have no intention of resigning or giving in to bullying due to internal politics.”
Cllr Wells says Cllr Brimm has been removed from her role due to a Cabinet restructure. He says portfolios – the areas Cabinet members are responsible for – will also be changed.
He said: “I can confirm that in the course of restructuring the Cabinet portfolios I have had to inform Cllr Suzanne Brimm that while she remains a valued and enthusiastic councillor she will no longer be a Cabinet member.
“I wish her good fortune in her campaigning from the back benches and, given UKIP has no whip in place, she has greater freedom to express herself openly and fully.
“Full details of Cabinet changes will follow early next week as portfolio changes also need to be advised to the Leader of the Opposition for his shadow structure to reflect the changes.”
Since being in the Cabinet Cllr Brimm has been involved with the introduction of a dog DNA scheme, the installation of a puffin crossing outside King Ethelbert school, improvements to play areas in Westgate and Birchington and a flytipping crackdown initiative.
She has also been involved in some heated debates in the council chamber.
Despite the removal of her role Cllr Brimm says she has no intention of leaving the council or the Ukip Party.
She said: “Actually I never wanted to be a councillor, I was only ever involved because I care about my community so I am not going to scrap around fighting for a position in politics.
“I told Cllr Wells I wasn’t resigning and I don’t believe he is acting in the best interests of the party or the people we represent.”
It is understood Cllr Stuart Piper will receive a Cabinet role although the nature of that post has not yet been revealed.
The Northwood ward councillor currently sits on the scrutiny and standards committees and is a reserve member of the governance and audit committee. He was previously the council chairman, a role now filled by fellow Ukip councillor Janet Falcon, and made an unsuccessful bid to be elected as the South Thanet MP in June’s snap election.
The changes, which are expected to come into force at the end of the month, follow the defection of former Ukip councillor Beverly Martin to the Conservatives, leaving Ukip without a council majority, and the election of Labour’s Ian Venables to the Margate Central seat.
The make up of Thanet council is now 27 Ukip; 21 Conservative; 6 Labour and 2 Independent Group.
Let us see what happens
At last Suzanne Brimm has been turned out of her role. She was also sacked from her British Gas job too. The women has a bad temper and is constantly tries to seek media attention, while she attacks the medical centre at Birchington but fails to be a good community role model herself. What gets me is the way Councillors such as this one uses their own name on social media and spouts off with bad language and feels just because she’s using her own name no one knows she’s a councillor with rules on public office. Thank god she’s gone. She’ll be causing more problems for Mr Wells now that she’s been ousted you’ll see, won’t be able to take that sort of demotion. On an ego trip that one.
Suzanne is one of the hardest working and most effective members of the Cabinet – what a way to treat her.
Mr Wells has done the best thing ever I think. He has got rid of an ineffective rude aggressive councillor. She’s a disgrace to her party. He has done the right thing.
Suzanne Brimm does nothing but abuse her powers by sticking her nose in matters that do not concern her and then complains and bullies when things do not go her own way. Unless there’s a photo opportunity for her she is not interested. KCC and recent Margate elections show the unpopular trend UKIP are fashioning. Role on 2019 when we can say good bye to the whole sorry lot of them!
So glad she’s gone what an awful women. She says she didn’t want to be a councillor then why did she stand as one. Typical UKIP rif raff. But they’ll all be gone next time round.
True! If she didn’t want to be a councillor, why did she also stand for election to KCC recently? Yes, Ukip will be wiped out in 2019!
Excellent move. This woman dosent deserve to be a councillor never mind a cabinet member. Can’t wait till thanet ukip are history. Bunch of toxic bullies who couldn’t run a bath let alone our council. Can’t get the bins emptied or the streets swept or the grass cut and Brimm was in charge of all that.
Absolutely right! Keeping the streets clean was a cornerstone election promise of Ukip during the 2015 General Election, along with saving Manston! Roll on 2019 when we will see them decimated!
I believe she wanted charged parking at Minnis Bay! Says it all!
Wonderful to see a feisty and capable sister, not willing to sit by passively and read from the script given by others. But there is a price to pay it seems – there often is for integrity. And balls.
What a load of tosh. Needs to go totally inadequate and cones up with ridiculous ideas. TDC need a shake up. There may be one on its way for a fee more complacent people !!
She was useless! And not effective in her role…
She was useless, and a disgrace
They’ve been planning to oust her for a while now. She has been too fiesty and they wanted her out after quite a bit of bad behaviour. Something to also do with not paying for some leaflets she put out in the recent by election. She refused point blank not to pay for them.
I should imagine her bullying tactics, humiliation of colleagues and other hard working individuals on social media, self-obsessed need for ‘success’, belittling and uneducated remarks to community members, lies and manipulation..have finally caught up with her. At a guess. Thanet deserves better!
ET was the best film of the 1980s no matter what UKIP say.
Now, who would have expected the defection?
You would have seeing as your a very close pal of hers. (Robster) or what ever your name is.
UKIP theme tune
https://youtu.be/rz3kdbtSj3M