Complaints about the conduct of Isle of Wight Council chairman Cllr Geoff Brodie are said to have been submitted to the authority in the wake of last week’s explosive meeting of the full council.
Although it is believed the council’s monitoring officer has received a number of complaints, the authority would not confirm this.
Tensions escalated
As reported by News OnTheWight, at the full meeting of the Isle of Wight Council on Wednesday, 23rd February, tensions escalated when members of the public erupted at councillors, leading to the clearing of the public gallery.
The tension came after a question was asked of the leader of the council, Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, by the Conservative Group leader Cllr Joe Robertson over her alleged ownership of ‘racially offensive’ golly dolls — something she has denied.
Public told told ‘shut up’
Outbursts from the public gallery in support of the council leader led to Cllr Brodie, chairman of the council, telling them to ‘shut up’.
Since then, complaints to the Isle of Wight Council about Cllr Brodie’s conduct are believed to have been been submitted.
Posting on social media, Islanders have raised allegations of harassment, intimidation and bullying against Cllr Brodie.
Brodie: Long conspiracy of complaints
Responding to the suggestion, Cllr Brodie said,
“I have absolutely no worries about any complaints being submitted.
“They will just add to the long conspiracy of complaints by Alliance councillors and people aggrieved by first, my support for the West Acre Park planning application and now, my opposition to racially offensive imagery being freely shared on her social media by the council leader.”
Brodie: Supporters of leader were were ‘shouting, screaming and abusing members of the council’
Cllr Brodie said he had little choice but to clear the public gallery as supporters of Cllr Peacey-Wilcox were ‘shouting, screaming and abusing members of the council’.
He said,
“It is not something I would ever have wanted to do, but the public attend full council to observe meetings, not to participate, particularly in such an offensive and intimidating manner.”
Escorted from the building
After the meeting, Cllr Brodie had to be escorted from the building.
In the council’s constitution if there is disturbance from the gallery, the chairman may adjourn the meeting and or call for the public to be cleared.
Public anger at councillors’ behaviour
An Alliance Group spokesperson said they were aware of the serious concerns raised about the behaviour of certain councillors at last week’s meeting, and others, which have caused public anger.
They said,
“We are mindful that the standard of behaviour of councillors must meet the expectations of the public and acceptable standards as detailed in the constitution and broader general standards of behaviour.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
