LYDNEY Town Council’s chief executive Jayne Smailes has officially resigned and is set to take the authority to an industrial tribunal for constructive dismissal.

And a third councillor has quit the authority in the wake of the resignations of Mayor

Mr Brian Pearman and Harry Ives, who was on the town council but remains an elected member for the Forest of Dean District Council.

Long-time councillor Mrs Carol Harris has handed in her resignation before a second Extraordinary Full Council meeting which is being held tonight (Monday).

Deputy Mayor Cllr Tess Tremlett has urged the council meeting not to ’be split’ and that it may have to go into a close session where the press and public are excluded if ’discussions move into personal areas’.

However, she told councillors in an email: “I would like to avoid that situation please since the public need re-assurance.”

Tonight’s Extraordinary Meeting is expected to be full with the public who want to hear answers to the crisis that has hit the authority since the end of July. It starts at Lydney Town Council offices at 7pm.