3:18pm Thursday 13th November 2008
By Alana Lewis
Calne town councillor John Ireland has been found guilty of harassment and disrespectful conduct towards town clerk Linda Roberts.
Lickhill ward councillor Coun Ireland, 61, was found guilty by the Standards Board of North Wiltshire District Council and has been suspended but says is determined not to let this affect his outspoken ways.
“For me the hearing was a disaster,” he said.
“It was a dreadful situation and this will only get worse. There will always be an undercurrent of aggravation and hostility within the council now.
“This will not stop me criticising the council or fighting their decisions. I will not back down.”
Coun Ireland, of Avon Close, was given the option of facing a one month ban from the council or making a formal apology to Mrs Roberts by December 1.
He said: “I was asked if I wanted to apologise and I said only when hell freezes over. I will now be suspended from council duties for a month.
“I am not upset about the ban because the council does not do a great deal at the end of the year. I am upset about the fact that I was accused of being a bully.”
The hearing took place at the district council offices at Monkton Park on Friday and was not open to the press or public.
Coun Ireland said: “It was a private hearing so I was not able to call witnesses to defend myself.
“It was her word against mine and unfortunately the panel took the word of an officer over an elected member.
“I have been a councillor for seven years and never before have I been accused of anything like this. The whole affair started over a telephone call back in April.
“Members of the public thought they had won a vote to fly the Union Jack at the town hall but Linda pulled the flag down.
“I told her she would have a virtual war on her hands over this matter and she thought this was a threatening comment. It really was not meant in that way.
“The panel said that they realised there are problems in the council and they had looked at these but they had to take into consideration Linda’s feelings.”
Town clerk Linda Roberts has refused to comment until the outcome has been made public.
Mrs Roberts served as deputy town clerk for five years until January when she took over long serving Ann Kingdon who had been the town clerk for nine years.
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