Councillor told staff she would 'kick their head in'

A councillor who swore at council staff and said she would kick them in the head broke the authority's code of conduct, an investigation has found.

Bracknell Forest councillor Dorothy Hayes MBE was the subject of a complaint by the borough council's chief executive after staff did not issue a formal grievance.

Susan Halliwell said Mrs Hayes' language was "quite appalling and thoroughly disrespectful" and she did not want staff "believing that they are going to be spoken to by a councillor in that way".

The Conservative councillor, who represents Winkfield and Warfield East, claimed the conversation was "banter" and that the staff did not take offence but that she was sorry.

An investigation found the councillor approached two members of staff at the council's Time Square headquarters in March.

One of the witnesses said she told them they should "watch it or I'll kick your head in" and that she could lip read so knew what they said when she approached them.

A council-appointed investigator, Richard Lingard, said the councillor had been "unresponsive", which led to a Zoom call between them about the incident becoming "disjointed and argumentative".

Mrs Dudley said the council provided an "incomplete account of the facts", with Mr Lingard having a "predetermined finding of wrongdoing".

She said there was no malicious intent in her use of "robust" language.

Mr Lingard found though that was the case, it was "no less inappropriate for all that", and that she broke the council's code of conduct.

A panel of councillors agreed with him on Tuesday.

It said Mrs Hayes will be given behavioural training and that it will order a written apology is sent to the officers who were involved.

It also said the matter would be referred to the councillor's Conservative group "to consider whether any action needs to be taken" in the future.

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