The way Isle of Wight councillors talk to one another, as well as to staff, has been raised as an issue at County Hall.
It comes as the council agrees to sign up to the Local Government Authority’s ‘Debate Not Hate’ campaign, which challenges the normalisation of abuse.
Jones-Evans: Abuse she had received from fellow councillors
Speaking at a meeting last night (Wednesday), Councillor Julie Jones-Evans said the most disappointing element was the abuse she had received from fellow councillors, so it was not just from the outside, but the inside.
Price: Some of it is inexcusable
Councillor Matt Price also highlighted the “atrocious behaviour” in the chamber with the way councillors have spoken to staff.
He said,
“It has been the worst I have ever seen, some of it is inexcusable … Staff cannot answer back, but they have been spoken to in a disgraceful way.”
Councillor Price challenged those who had spoken to staff in such a manner to look at their own behaviour.
Lucioni: Seven out of ten councillors had been abused or intimidated
The national campaign looks to improve the response to and support for those in a public role who face abuse and intimidation.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, who proposed the motion, said a Local Government Association survey found seven out of ten councillors had been abused or intimidated, which was unacceptable.
She said it was putting people off from standing to be a councillor and just because they were in politics, did not mean they should put up with intimidation.
Mosdell: Life becomes difficult with regular abuse
Councillor Clare Mosdell, the leader of the Conservative group, said it was something all councillors could agree with, but hoped it was not all “fluff and flannel”.
She said,
“Life becomes difficult with regular abuse … but when it is reported [to the council] there is no support.
“You are told to expect it as a county councillor — it doesn’t matter if it is making you ill.
“What are we doing to stop it? Change it? We need to have something like a standards board as there is no punishment for this behaviour.
“I completely get it but I want to know what will be done to protect councillors and staff.”
Jarman: Needed to be robust processes in place
Councillor Chris Jarman echoed Councillor Mosdell and said there would be an overwhelming desire to support the motion, but there needed to be robust processes in place within the council to deal with the issues.
He said previous matters raised with the council had not been dealt with in the way most would have expected.
The national campaign also aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities and encourage healthy debate.
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
