READERS will remember that early in March, the most senior paid officer at Northallerton Town Council was suspended.

The authority took the unusual step of removing Sue Fraser from her role as chief executive and town clerk while it investigated what was described as a “whistleblower” complaint.

Nobody would go public on the issue and the council has remained tight-lipped about the matter ever since.

In late April an email emerged which suggested that “unprofessional behaviour” towards other staff could be at the root of the problem.

The electronic missive from the union Unison, representing three of the employees, claimed there were still outstanding issues which needed to be investigated.

It even claimed that until the matters were resolved Mrs Fraser’s return could have implications for the health and well-being of its members.

Undoubtedly there was some deep unhappiness within the authority’s workforce and, equally undoubtedly, it is right that some personnel matters should remain confidential and be shielded from the public eye.

However it is now four months since that initial suspension and various meetings have been held - but the silence from the town council has been deafening, without a single statement on the issue.

All that we know has come from whispers and leaks and the authority still remains without a senior paid official – although deputy Kay Lambert and fellow administrative officer Jill Johnstone appear to be doing a sterling job in her absence.

It is true that the wheels of local authority can be very slow-moving – but at some point something will have to be said, even if only to stop unfounded gossip. Perhaps, after a third of a year, that should now be sooner rather than later?