Councillor accused of ‘discourteous and intimidatory behaviour’ towards staff member

An unnamed councillor in Newport was reported to Wales’ public services ombudsman over alleged “discourteous and intimidatory behaviour” towards a member of staff.

The city council’s standards committee heard claims the councillor had “behaved in a disrespectful and intimidatory manner… on two occasions”.

Monitoring officer Mike Wallbank said the ombudsman was unable to proceed with the case, however, because the staff member allegedly involved didn’t take part in the investigation.

“That investigation related to respect, bullying, harassment, confidentiality or the disclosure of confidential information, and the member bringing their office into dispute,” Mr Wallbank told the committee.

He added: “But because that key witness didn’t want to engage, the ombudsman’s actions in the investigation were somewhat limited… and so, the ombudsman concluded that [without] any direct evidence it wasn’t possible to establish reliably what had occurred.”

A report on the ombudsman’s website refers to a “discontinued case”, opened after it was “alleged a member of Newport City Council acted in a disrespectful and intimidatory manner towards a member of staff at tenanted accommodation on two separate occasions”.

Attempts to speak to the “key witness” were unsuccessful, leaving the ombudsman with “no further witnesses to events on either occasion, or further lines of enquiry”.

“It is, therefore, not possible to reach a determination on these allegations, even with further investigation, as to whether the member’s conduct was suggestive of a breach of the code [of conduct],” the ombudsman concluded.

“For these reasons it was not proportionate or in the public interest to continue the investigation,” they added. “However, should further witness evidence become available in the future, it may be in the public interest for the ombudsman to consider the matter further.

“The ombudsman recommended that the member reflected on his behaviour and familiarised himself with his obligations under the code.”

At the committee meeting, Cllr Debbie Harvey asked whether the staff member was given support following the alleged incident.

“The member of staff was looked after,” replied Mr Wallbank. “It was actually the manager that raised the complaint with the ombudsman, so support was provided and concern was raised by the managers in the service concerned.”

Cllr Harvey said that was “good to hear, because harassment and bullying in the workplace is absolutely zero tolerance – and so it should be”.