Posted: Mon 15th Apr 2019

Councillor writes apology to person he called ‘bloody old fool’ in planning meeting – video edited to remove comment

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Monday, Apr 15th, 2019

Councillor Morris has written to a person who lives in his ward apologising for an insult that was caught on camera.

A complaint had been lodged against the planning committee chairman after he called a retired army major a ‘bloody old fool’. The comment was made in a public planning meeting, and was also captured by the council’s webcasting system allowing it to be replayed afterwards.

The webcast archive recording was pulled earlier today, however has since reappeared in an edited form.

Wrexham Council have said, “We are aware that a member of the public has taken offence to some of the comments made during the planning meeting, and as such we briefly took the webcast down for editing. An edited version of the webcast, with the offending comments removed, has been re-uploaded to the site.

“Cllr Morris has written and apologised to the member of the public concerned for his comments.”

Having sat in hours of meetings regarding the details on the council’s webcasting system such a take down, edit and republication would likely have some form of cost attributed to it via officer time or financial, or both.

The element of the video that is no longer available to view is below:

As we documented, a speech at Wrexham’s Guildhall made reference to the Magna Carta, which was alluded to by planning officer David Williams shortly after councillors voted plans for a development in Llay through.

Council Officer Mr Williams is heard to say: “Did he quote the Magna Carta last time?”

Cllr Morris replies: “Yes he did, bloody old fool. He lives in my ward.”

Soon afterwards, he seems to realise his microphone is switched on and turns it off – with an audible comment caught at that point too.

Major Donald Moore, the subject of the insult, has called on Cllr Morris to resign his position as chairman of the planning committee.

Previously Cllr Morris has indicated he did not wish to comment until after the authority’s investigation has concluded.

 



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