Exposing Council Misconduct

Rude, threatening councillor escapes action

Coun Deborah Roberts, a member of South Cambridgeshire District Council A LEADING councillor has escaped punishment despite making offensive remarks about travellers, bullying staff and sending disrespectful emails to officers.

Coun Deborah Roberts, a member of South Cambridgeshire District Council's cabinet, faced no disciplinary action from the Standards Board after an exhaustive 11- month investigation.

The decision so angered the chairman of the council's own standards committee he has now resigned.

In his resignation letter, David Gilbertson, a former deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, described the Standards Board's decision as "perverse".

Its report into Coun Roberts' behaviour found she:

Sent disrespectful emails to the former director of planning, David Hussell, questioning his ability and threatening him.
Made disrespectful comments to two members of the council about a former director and his suitability for a senior management post.
Berated the council's head of community services, Simon Mackintosh, within earshot of colleagues.
Sent disrespectful, threatening emails to Tim Wetherfield, the head of policy and communications.
Made offensive remarks about travellers, while community development portfolio holder, thereby bringing her office into disrepute.

It has also emerged the council had to take legal advice on whether Coun Roberts' remarks about travellers, made at a development and conservation control (direct action) sub-committee meeting in 2004, were criminal.

But the Standards Board has ruled no action needs to be taken against Coun Roberts, who has represented Fowlmere and Foxton since 1990 and is currently housing portfolio holder.

In his letter to Greg Harlock, the council's chief executive, Mr Gilbertson wrote: "I have come to this decision after much soul-searching and consideration of other options.

"I am passionate about the maintenance of standards in public life and it is for this reason that I take the view that the decision of the Standards Board in this case is potentially highly damaging. Without the visible, active, and assertive support of the Standards Board, promotion of the code of conduct and ethical standards at a local level will be a 'lost cause'.

"The Standards Board has a duty to be seen to be supporting those elected members and officers who bravely 'raise their heads above the parapet' and report matters of concern.

The Standards Board has comprehensively failed in this serious case, which was in many respects a test of their resolve, and I therefore cannot see that I can continue to have a meaningful or productive relationship with them."

Mr Gilbertson, who holds the Queen's Police Medal and was deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police until 2001, has served on the standards committee since it was formed six years ago and has chaired it for the past four years. He was appointed as an independent outsider.

Coun Sebastian Kindersley, former council leader, who was among those who reported Coun Roberts' behaviour, said she should resign.

He said: "If so many complaints had been upheld against me on those grounds I would be embarrassed to ever step into the building again.

She should resign.

"I think it's extremely regrettable that Mr Gilbertson has resigned. This is a man of substantial honour and integrity who was very well respected professionally and personally and did a very good job of chairing the standards committee."

But Coun David Bard, outgoing leader of the council, said the council stood by the Standards Board's decision.

He said: "I'm disappointed Mr Gilbertson's made that decision. He was a very effective chairman of the Standards Board. That decision was his and I thank him for the work he has done and wish him well in the future.

"Whatever one might think of the matters of the case it has been thoroughly considered and a judgment has been passed. I stand by the verdict of the Standards Board for England."

Coun Alex Riley, who faced the Standards Board committee last year and was found to have breached four sections of the code but was also not disciplined, said the system needed to be overhauled.

He said: "The board really enjoys dishing the dirt on councillors and the fact it concluded there was nothing to proceed on must indicate they thought there was nothing there. The problem is the board will view totally unsubstantiated allegations as fact."

The report states: "The ethical standards officer noted that Coun Roberts' misconduct occurred a considerable time ago. The ethical standards officer also noted that the officers affected did not complain about Coun Roberts' behaviour and actually spoke positively about her work for the authority, particularly in relation to travellers.

"Indeed, since the incidents there has been a positive working relationship between Coun Roberts and the officers. The ethical standards officer also took into account the fact that Coun Roberts had expressed regret for her conduct and undertaken to behave appropriately in the future. In these circumstances, the ethical standards officer found that no action needed to be taken."

A spokesman for the council said: "We were sorry to hear of Mr Gilbertson's decision to stand down . . . we would like to thank him for his years of service as chairman of the council's standards committee.

"Whilst we appreciate that the media will, of course, be interested in investigations about complaints against councillors, this is not a fair reflection of the hard work and dedication by so many councillors and staff in serving local communities."

Coun Roberts said:

"The Standards Board has conducted a full and thorough investigation into the allegations that Mr Gilbertson chose to involve himself in on behalf of third parties and have decided . . . that no further action is required.

"I have accepted the findings and I apologise to those who felt I had not shown them enough respect. I now look forward to once again being able to put all my efforts into speaking up for and representing the residents of South Cambs as I have done for 15 years. I would hope and trust that others involved can now be prepared to do the same."

Allegations she misused the council's resources by destroying copies of the Code of Conduct in the members' lounge were rejected because there was no requirement for them to be there.

Excerpt from the resignation letter

"I AM passionate about the maintenance of standards in public life and it is for this reason that I take the view that the decision of the Standards Board for England in this case is potentially highly damaging.

Without the visible, active, and assertive support of the SBE, promotion of the Code of Conduct and ethical standards at a local level will be a 'lost cause'.

The SBE has a duty to be seen tobe supporting those elected members and officers who bravely 'raise their heads above the parapet' and report matters of concern.

The SBE has comprehensively failed in this serious case, which was in many respects a test of their resolve, and I therefore cannot see that I can continue to have a meaningful or productive relationship with them."Please know that I sever my relationship with South Cambridgeshire District Council with great regret.

I have immense respect for the committed and professional officers of the authority, the hardworking members of the standards committee, and particularly for the personal leadership that you [Mr Harlock] show under challenging circumstances.

Likewise, I have the highest regard for the majority of elected members who serve the interests of their local communities with commitment and integrity.

"I count many as friends and it is a great shame that the actions of a tiny minority should besmirch the unselfish contribution that their colleagues make.

The leader who lasted seconds

DEB Roberts has had a colourful career as one of the most outspoken councillors in South Cambridgeshire.

One of the most memorable moments in the council chamber came in 2005 when Coun Roberts was announced winner of a closely-fought leadership election.

As her supporters cheered she began her acceptance speech, but just 20 words in she was interrupted by the council chairman, who told her there had been a mistake and she had lost by one vote.

Rebel councillor Robin Page described the scene as like something out of a Laurel and Hardy film, adding: "It was an absolute fiasco - sheer incompetence."

In March last year Coun Roberts was at the centre of a rift among councillors, when she and four colleagues wrote to the News, rejecting accusations they had been "irresponsible" to oppose a redundancy deal worth up to Ł250,000 handed to the council's former chief executive.

She also opposed the council's move to plush new offices in Cambourne in 2004, when she warned it was "foolish" to give up its offices in Cambridge and move to "a field" in the new town.

And in April last year, she criticised her colleagues' willingness to report each other to the Standards Board after a complaint against Coun Mike Mason, who was alleged to have disclosed confidential information, was thrown out.

She said: "I think this really shows councillors should think a little more before they act against colleagues in this way and get their facts right."

Source: Cambridge Evening News (16/01/2007)

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