Christchurch Town Council asked to undertake training on code of conduct by BCP over number of complaints

All members of Christchurch Town Council have been asked to take further training on the code of conduct governing the behaviour of councillors after a number of complaints.

Members at a meeting of BCP’s standards committee agreed the move following the upholding of two complaints against one male councillor for making “unacceptable, hurtful and misogynistic comments” in emails and on social media.

Both the town council and BCP are refusing to name the councillor who made the comments in April and May last year. They were investigated by an independent investigator who found in favour of the complainants.

At this week’s meeting the standards committee voted to accept his findings and apply sanctions to the councillor – and also to the council itself.

The committee went into private session to discuss details of the complaints, and BCP and the town council have both refused to give the A&T information on them.

But chair of the committee, Cllr Vanessa Ricketts, announced at the end of the meeting that the town councillor who breached the code of conduct must make a “public apology” at the next full CTC meeting.

The councillor has also been ordered to make another apology on the “Facebook page where the initial part of the complaint that was brought was made”.

The councillor has also been told to make a “personal apology” for a second complaint about comments they made which were found to have partly breached the code.

The code of conduct for councillors states they must “behave in such a way that a reasonable person would regard as respectful”.

Councillors also must abide by a rule that they “are not to act in a way which a reasonable person would regard as bullying or intimidatory and shall not seek to improperly confer an advantage or disadvantage on any person”.

Announcing the sanctions for the breaches, which were ruled by the investigator to be “minor”, Cllr Ricketts then said she was proposing that BCP “recommend to Christchurch Town Council that all members receive additional training on the code of conduct”.

She added: “We are now halfway through this election term, and due to the number of complaints that we are receiving on this particular council, we feel that it is necessary for further training to be given to all members.”

The motion was carried unanimously.

A lead officer for Christchurch Town Council said: “We acknowledge the findings of the BCP standards committee and respect the outcomes of the independent investigations. We are waiting to receive formal guidance from BCP Council following the standards committee meeting.

“We are committed to high standards of public service and welcome the opportunity this provides to strengthen councillor awareness of their responsibilities under the code of conduct.

“We note the committee’s recommendation for further training for all councillors, and support this as a constructive step to ensure clarity, consistency, and continued professionalism across the council.

“Since these complaints were first made, Christchurch Town Council has taken clear and proactive steps to support good governance and positive working. We will continue to build on this foundation in the months ahead.”