Comment

Long-serving Kinver cllr Ena Ray

KINVER parish councillors Ena Ray and Mike Davies this week said it was back to business as usual - after the pair were given an official slap on the wrist over a bust-up at a village meeting.

Tempers flared when the two cllrs clashed at the council's planning committee meeting last October 31 - and the row, which saw 58-year-old Mrs Ray threatening to knock the teeth out of her senior colleague, was reported to the Standards Board for England.

Following months of investigations, local government monitoring officer for South Staffordshire - Lin Robinson - has ruled cllr Davies should be censured for aggressive comments towards ex-parish council chairman Ena Ray - which were made when he suggested two councillors voted against a plan at district council which had previously been approved at parish council.

The pair have also both been ordered to apologise for their actions after they were deemed to have breached the Standards Board's Code of Conduct, which stipulates those in office must not abuse their position or mistreat others.

A hearing of The Standards (Hearings and Determinations) Sub-Committee heard cllr Davies had "exhibited behaviour regarded as aggressive and confrontational" and that his manner towards cllr Ray was "unreasonable, unnecessary and disrespectful".

While cllr Ray was said to have threatened cllr Davies and failed to treat him with respect, although the board was told "the words were not intended as a threat of personal violence but more an expression of frustration".

Long-serving cllr Mrs Ray later told the News: "Out of sheer frustration I said I could have knocked his teeth out, but it was just a stupid throw-away line and it was not said to him; he had left the building ten minutes earlier; and there was no intent behind it."

Both councillors have the right to appeal against the decision, but Ena - a parish cllr for 18 years - said she has already sent her apologies, adding: "As far as I'm concerned that's the end of it."

Cllr Davies added: "There's no animosity - it's business as usual."

New parish council chairman Margaret Rogers did not wish to comment.

Meanwhile former Kinver parish councillor Andy Cox says he resigned from the council last December after five years due to the backbiting and disrespectful comments encountered at meetings.

He told the News: "I was tired of the belligerence, jealous, spiteful remarks. And I was appalled that members of a parish council acted in the most appalling way and virtually no one in the community was aware of their behaviour, as so few attend the council meetings.

"It was so sad as the majority of the councillors are wonderful people - but to have to tolerate such behaviour is quite unacceptable."

12:38pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

Print

Email this

Comment