Councillors told to stop swearing and show respect

A "zero-tolerance approach" to swearing will be adopted by a Devon council trying to manage the behaviour of councillors.

An investigation will be carried out into the way councillors behave towards each other at Teignbridge District Council.

Auditors Grant Thornton said Teignbridge was unlike other councils and the way councillors treated one another had affected "the council's reputation and working culture".

Liberal Democrat councillors voted in favour of the action but opposition members said the Grant Thornton report was "one-sided" and a "smear against all councillors".

Beth Bowers from Grant Thornton told councillors two previous reports had raised concerns about the behaviour of members and issues had persisted.

She said: "The behaviour we have witnessed is totally unacceptable."

When asked for examples of bad behaviour, Ms Bowers said: "Shouting, swearing, muting microphones and leaving meetings."

She said interactions between councillors were "unlike those we have seen elsewhere in our extensive experience".

Richard Keeling, Liberal Democrat leader of the council, said: "The public don't want to see councillors arguing in the council chamber - they want to see us getting on with the job.

"Shouting obscenities is not what we are here for."

Philip Bullivant, the Conservative group leader, said the report by Grant Thornton was "an indictment on this council".

Independent member Richard Daws said Teignbridge was "unlike any other council" and said he had "never experienced anything as toxic".

He said: "Without naming names it's an overarching smear against all councillors."

Independent member Jane Taylor referred to a heated meeting which took place in July in which leisure centre changing facilities were discussed.

Taylor said: "I've been harassed and bullied because of my gender-critical views."

She said issues of councillor behaviour were "not complex" and added: "We don't need an independent investigator to come in here and waste public money."

The BBC spoke to Jackie Weaver, the parish council clerk from Cheshire who shot to fame during lockdown when she appeared in a meeting that spiralled into chaos.

Speaking about councillor behaviour generally she said: "It is something I feel has got worse and I think it's something we must do something about.

"Often the behaviour itself is frankly petty but that low-level stuff has a really detrimental effect - not only on the council but also on the community."

The government launched a consultation in December into standards of behaviour among councillors and could introduce the power to suspend councillors.

In Teignbridge there will also be a review of the membership of the council's standards committee, with only members who have "an excellent behavioural track record" being eligible to join.

An investigation will now be commissioned and Grant Thornton will review the situation in six to 12 months' time.

The auditors said if there was no improvement then "further action will be taken".

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