Apology offered by Fairford councillors for code of conduct breach

9:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News By Laura Shack

A STRAINED apology has been given by four Fairford town councillors after they were found in breach of a local code of conduct.

Councillors Suzanne Jones, Martin Harwood, Mark Wardle and town mayor Rob Winney were accused of bullying, intimidation, disrepute and disrespect by Cllr Chris Roberts for a letter that the foursome submitted to the Standard in March 2011.

They were twice cleared of these allegations by Standards assessment and review committees. However, the Local Monitoring Officer found the foursome in breach of a clause in the local Fairford Town Council code, which requires all personal comments to be clearly declared.

In a written apology submitted at last week’s town council meeting, from which Cllr Roberts was absent due to holiday leave, the councillors said they disagreed with the decision but would not challenge it.

The letter stated: "To bring this nonsense to a conclusion we are accepting the suggestion of the Monitoring Officer that it would be appropriate to offer an apology to the Town Council."

The town council noted the apology but without the four councillors, and a number of absent members, did not have enough councillors remaining to make a vote.

Comments(11)

David Broad says...
12:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12

If we made an apology like that at CDC we would be straight back to the monitoring officer accused of contempt.

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mac171717 says...
2:41pm Sat 22 Sep 12

David Broad says...
12:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12

If we made an apology like that at CDC we would be straight back to the monitoring officer accused of contempt.”

Exactly . The insincere apology shows the arrogance of the people involved. In my opinion its not the first time a person has been singled out for their views

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Crispin Mount says...
3:29pm Sat 22 Sep 12

"Best you learn your place, plebs" said no-one related to Andrew Mitchell MP.

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HenryW says...
12:03pm Sun 23 Sep 12

These Councillors had to apologise because they breached the Code and the rules of the Town Council which were put together by the Town’s Procedures Committee, made up of Cllrs Suzanne Jones, Martin Harwood and Mark Wardle.

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mac171717 says...
12:57pm Sun 23 Sep 12

High lighting incompetance dont you think. These people could cost the town a hell of a lot of money !

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Susie Clark says...
2:48pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Is Mark Wardle the same Mark Wardle , who , after ganging up with his mates in Fairford, including Lib Dem Martin Harwood , then appears as an " independent" on a CDC Standards board to pass judgement on another Lib Dem, Councillor Esmond Jenkins . Mmmm!

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HenryW says...
4:02pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Yes the same Mark Wardle who along with his buddy Suzanne Jones wasted a helluva lot of money over the Village Green fiasco and wasted tax payers money with there complaints and vendetta against Cllr Chris Roberts MBE.

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Olly Cromwell says...
4:40pm Sun 23 Sep 12

There you have it folks - more gutter politics from East Cotswolds when what we need is a Ray of sunshine.

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Robert Jeanes says...
5:28pm Sun 23 Sep 12

Well I never. It’s ‘Susie’ again! ’ Thought she was a gonner!
‘She’ had been awfully quiet lately despite much LibDem fodder being offered on the national ‘table d'hôte ’ menu, recently in particular. Is there not a single, differing subject upon which ‘Susie’ has ever put pen to paper?

As for the actual subject of the article, dear, late Kenneth Williams’ I-N-F-A-M-Y immediately springs to mind! Despite any sycophants (who use phoney names) lending support a certain irony cannot, surely be lost on them.

The wordsmith’s tiara has been righted and jolly nice that is too! It shows that democracy is there for all to see at the Cotswold District Council doesn’t it?

One does wonder whether the Monitoring Officers smile or grimace when they (again) see the name ‘Councillor Roberts’......MBE.
.... in their In Tray. They do after all get paid a lot of taxpayers’ money - every time it happens.

‘HenryW’ would do well to remember that.

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mac171717 says...
1:35pm Thu 27 Sep 12

You are in support of these people i assume its nice and cosy where you are coming from??? I however dared to voice my own opinion (which we are all entitled to) and recieved an reply which was rude and offensive , so in short yes phoney name

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barbwirebob says...
9:30am Fri 28 Sep 12

Is this the same Mr Robert Jeanes that condemened other people on the Council for exactly the same issues but SURPRISINGLY has backed his chums and thinks it correct not to apologise correctly to a person who it would seem or indeed look like he is stalking on websites by the amount of comments he issues about the well respected Cllr Roberts. I also agree if this is an apology it should be looked at as contempt and not be accepted. Another case for the standards board one would think!!!

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