A FORMER clerk of Didcot Town Council lodged a formal complaint against her old bosses over its eviction of a charity, leading it to concede it ‘could work better’.

Julia Underwood, who was town clerk for more than 30 years, argued the council did not notify residents or consult with them enough about its move to evict the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

The Conservative-run council decided to evict CAB from its rent-free Civic Hall home in March because it said room would not be available following a forthcoming £1.3m facelift of the building.

CAB will reopen in the former Dale’s building in High Street on Monday, November 22, but needs to raise £60,000 for refurbishment and more for running costs and rent.

Mrs Underwood, who stepped down five years ago, said the council did not make clear CAB was up for debate on its agendas for the March 1 finance committee and the full council on March 8.

It was listed as ‘civic hall update’.

She also said the council failed to properly consult the public.

The council has now recorded: “It was concluded that the council could work better and do things smarter, and could improve its engagement with the town’s residents.”

It did not uphold her complaint about the agendas.

Mrs Underwood, of Newlands Avenue, Didcot, said: “I’m pleased the council has acknowledged its failings and that my complaint has been partially upheld.

“Every council has the right to make controversial decisions but the public should have the right to know about them.”

Margaret Davies, leader of the Labour group on the council, added: “I think there has been a shameful lack of consultation.”

She said CAB users should have been consulted along with hall users.

“The CAB building at the town hall was purpose-built 15 years ago and the town council has never come up with a proper reason for the CAB having to move out,” she said.

But town council leader Bill Service said: “I do think the town council did enough to consult residents over this.

“However, there is a recognition that while we feel the decision was right, it could have been handled a lot better and we have learnt from that.”

The council has now set up a standing order working group and one of its remits is to look at ways of improving public consultation.

Mr Service added: “We really do want to build a good working relationship with the CAB in the future.”

, CAB manager Judith Abela said: “We were not included in any consultation about plans for the civic hall.

“The council decision was in March and that was the first time we knew that the council wanted us to leave.

“That has left us with an extremely short time-frame to move and fit out new premises.”

Ms Abela said the £14,000 compensation from the town council following the eviction would be set aside for running costs.