The Ombudsman received a complaint from an employee of Sully and Lavernock Community Council (“the Council”) that a Member (“the Member”) of the Council had failed to observe the Code of Conduct for Members.
It was alleged that, during an incident on a Council playing field concerning Council equipment, the Member verbally abused and bullied the employee and subjected the employee’s father to abuse and provocation.
The Ombudsman concluded that the Member used abusive and offensive language towards the employee in front of other members and the employee’s father, in an attempt to insult, belittle and undermine the employee. The Ombudsman concluded that the Member’s actions were suggestive of bullying and provocation.
The Ombudsman determined that the Member’s behaviour may have breached the Council’s Code of Conduct, in particular 4(b) and 4(c) in a failure to show respect and consideration to others, and not to use bullying behaviour. The Ombudsman also found that the Member’s conduct could reasonably be regarded as behaviour which might bring the office of Member of the Council into disrepute and was therefore also suggestive of a breach of 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.
The Ombudsman referred his investigation report to the Monitoring Officer of Vale of Glamorgan Council for consideration by its Standards Committee.
The Member resigned shortly before the Standards Committee Hearing. The Standards Committee of Vale of Glamorgan Council determined that the Former Member had breached paragraphs 4(b), 4(c) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct and the Former Member received a censure