Issue - meetings

To consider the report on Standards Committee and Employment Issues following Harvey v Ledbury Town Council.

The Assistant Director – Governance and Legal Services gave a summary of the report regarding issues raised by a recent court case concerning action taken by Ledbury Town Council in respect of an allegation by an employee of bullying against a councillor. The report also considered the implications of the case for the Standards Committee and Monitoring Officer. The Assistant Director – Governance and Legal Services noted that town and parish councils needed to manage the situation if a councillor was accused of bullying an employee, but could not make findings or impose punishment.

Members noted that bullying could be to one person what being over-sensitive could be to another, and that this made such issues more complex.

Members noted that for parish councils with only one employee, a personality clash between the employee and members made the functioning of that council harder.

The Assistant Director – Governance and Legal Services said he would send the report on employment issues following Harvey v Ledbury Town Council to town and parish councils.