The Ombudsman’s office received a complaint that a Member (“the Member”) of Brackla Community Council (“the Community Council”) had breached the Code of Conduct. It was alleged that the Member had maliciously and deliberately tried to discredit another member (“the Complainant”), during a Community Council meeting that was attended by other councillors and members of the public.
The investigation considered whether the Member failed to comply with the following provisions of the Code of Conduct:
- 4(b) – You must show respect and consideration for others.
- 6(1)(a) – You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or authority into disrepute.
Witness accounts were obtained. The investigation found that the Member had accused the Complainant of misusing his position as Cabinet Member of the County Borough Council during a Community Council meeting and in a WhatsApp group chat that comprised of Community Council members.
The Ombudsman considered that the Member’s accusatory comments were not based on fact and concluded that the Member had failed to show respect and consideration towards the Complainant, in breach of paragraph 4(b) of the Code.
It was also concluded that some of the Member’s comments could bring the Member’s office or authority into disrepute as they were made within a public forum, and that the Member’s conduct was therefore also suggestive of a breach of paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Code.
The report on the investigation was referred to the Monitoring Officer of Bridgend County Borough Council, for consideration by its Standards Committee.
The Standards Committee determined that the Member had failed to comply with paragraph 4(b) of the Code. It determined that a censure be imposed on the Member.