Council Inaction Over Alleged Highly Objectionable Phrase Used During Meeting

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  • #205903

    Comment 8or
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    An experienced senior councillor and Group Deputy Leader, has resigned her position from the Executive Board, citing health reasons, days after an allegation was made that she used a ‘highly objectionable phrase’ during a meeting to discuss the future of the former Groves site. We don’t know what the actual comments were, as it was a closed meeting and has not been released for public consumption. I do not make any judgement about the phrase or the councillor therefore. However, the phrase used was sufficiently serious to be described by some present in the meeting, as being highly objectionable. Now, I may have uttered the occasional expletive from time to time, but I have never done so in a formal setting, such as a work’s meeting, even if it was a ‘closed’ meeting. I would not remain in employment for long if I did. And in this case, this wasn’t just bad language, but a highly objectionable phrase, which is far more objectionable than a random expletive. The Council has a Code of Conduct and prides itself on its high moral standards, equality and inclusivity. As you might expect, it wasted no time therefore in conducting its own, internal formal investigation. This is how an organisation learns from any shortcomings. It identifies and disseminates any lessons learnt for the benefit of its staff, and to ensure continued development and improvement of standards. It does not stand still. The Council’s specialist Monitoring Officer’s investigation concluded, having considered all the facts (which hopefully included actually speaking to all those present), that no action should be taken. Nothing at all. That’s a bit like marking your own homework, or writing your own performance and development pay review report. We expect the Council to demonstrably uphold the highest of standards.

    When trying to uncover what was actually said, you would ask the councillor what was said, but she has no recollection of saying anything highly objectionable. She doesn’t deny it, just can’t remember. You would think that if it was out of the ordinary, you would remember. However, she apologises if any offence was caused – even although she has no idea what she might have said. The Leader of the Independent Group was actually present in the same meeting. You would ask him what was said by his Deputy. However, it just so happens he wasn’t listening and did not hear the highly objectionable words used. This is despite others present at the same meeting clearly hearing it, and considered it to be so serious and of such concern, that they felt they needed to take the highly unusual course of action and inform Wrexham.com. Staff should not have to feel that they need to take independent action, outside of the organisation they belong to. They clearly don’t have faith in the internal system. It was a private, but important meeting, so you could always check the meeting notes. Except that it turns out that no record of the meeting was made. Can you imagine anyone saying ‘highly’ objectionable language in any work meeting in which you have attended, with the outcome of ‘no action’ needed because the person alleged to have said it can’t remember, despite others present who could, and are obviously willing to say so? If councillors and / or officers present in the meeting are saying that they definitely heard it, (and reported it to Wrexham.com) and no-one is saying it wasn’t said, then that is a compelling indictment that it was said. We can only assume therefore that the Monitoring Officer, and senior figures, concluded that it is perfectly acceptable to use such phrases in its meetings and that no action whatsoever is needed. Not even words of advice. It may have been a closed meeting, but that doesn’t make it right. To immediately resign from the Executive Board due to ill health following a leaked allegation is not exoneration and is irrelevant to the need for lessons to be identified and learnt and to send out the proper message for the benefit of others. This isn’t the first resignation from the Executive Board from the same Group in recent times. The Monitoring Officer’s senior management don’t seem bothered by this.

    #205928

    JP
    Participant

    So what?

    Check out how many of our councillors have arrest/criminal records.

    She probably only suggested knocking the lot down.

    #205934

    wrexview
    Participant

    I would wish Councillor Lowe well and hope she recovers from her ill health and wonder if she will take a total break from the Council until she recovers?

    #205977

    Matt
    Participant

    I can tell you now, she is not one of the stronger councillors from my local area. Clr Phillips is significantly better for local community issues.

    Clearly there were major objections in regards to what was said otherwise she wouldn’t have stepped down. Of course we shall never find out.

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