BCAT Director claims she was undermined

Lynne Hoy told the Messenger she was very upset to leave Burngreave after only eight months. “I’m very committed and dedicated and expected this would be a fabulous job I could spend five years in, but my position became untenable and I felt I had no option but to leave.”

“A small group, consisting of a forum member and two trustees, used me as a pawn to push their own agenda. They criticised decisions I made and, without going through the Chair, checked on my progress, sent a letter to my home questioning my conduct and verbally attacked me to other Trustees. They also encouraged staff members to speak to them directly about issues that I, as Director, should have been involved in.

“My position as Director was both compromised and undermined, and I felt unable to function in the position that I was being paid for. Prominent people in the community gave me their support and attempted to rectify the situation; I am very grateful and would like to take this opportunity to thank them, but because I didn’t wish to see BCAT collapse and I didn’t want to be personally responsible for its demise. I decided that my resignation would help towards bringing these issues to an end.”

No win situation

“A split in the trustees left me in a no win situation. I did get support from most of the Trustees but those Trustees didn’t have the expertise to sort out the problems they were facing. Complaints weren’t dealt with properly, ie I complained about a Trustee’s conduct at a meeting and suggested that a ‘code of conduct’ should be implemented. I didn’t receive a response to this suggestion. I was asked to answer questions about my activity in regards to a project BCAT was managing; I did so but again didn’t receive a response.

“I felt that although these Trustees showed a tremendous amount of commitment, when things got difficult they didn’t actually have the necessary time to give, after all they are volunteers with their own work and family lives. What they have failed to recognise is that they have a responsibility to staff, they had a responsibility to me and they let me down.”

One of the three Trustees who resigned following news of Lynne Hoy’s departure told the Messenger he had left in protest at the way this issue had been handled and at the behaviour of other trustees.

Accusations untrue say BCAT

Pete Smith, former Chair of the BCAT Trustees, told the Messenger that BCAT had always conducted its business honourably and that these accusations were “perfectly untrue”.

“We are totally committed to the area and its people. If bad relationships developed they are purely down to those people. BCAT is about taking forward the vision for Burngreave, not personalities, and I truly believe these people are trying to spoil all the years of good work of BCAT.

“Our procedures are completely open and any suggestions to the contrary are a complete travesty. The trustees that resigned did so together, with no warning, in an irresponsible way that was aimed at removing two female trustees and ‘sinking the ship’.

“It has been a very hurtful time. People owe an allegiance to the community and issues like these threaten to damage the integrity of BCAT, which hurts the community. I’m proud to live in Burngreave and of BCAT and we’re now going from strength to strength. We have new Trustees and need to focus on the staff team and the good work we are doing for the area.

“There are always lessons to be learned. Retrospect can be a harsh tool but if handled carefully, with sensitivity and caution, it can also be a very useful tool. I believe that BCAT is always learning and developing from past experiences. This is a continual process and is one of BCAT’s many strengths.”

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