A Greater Manchester council's handling of disciplinary issues among its elected members has been questioned by the long-standing leader of one of its political groups.
Coun Andy Kelly, who heads up Rochdale Council's Lib Dems, claims the authority is facing repeated problems - as those who step out of line face 'no consequences' for their actions.
It comes as he warned earlier this year that the councillors had no place complaining about the public while the council was facing a 'record number of complaints about councillor conduct.'
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He has hit out after 'code of conduct' training was offered to all councillors, after the controlling Labour group made it mandatory for its members.
While Coun Kelly says his group will be undertaking the training - he told the M.E.N. he will be asking what consequences wayward members will face - and what has changed since it was last rolled out.
“It’s a long-standing bugbear of mine that councillors across the board - elected members - don’t observe the code of conduct, whether that be bullying, whether that’s the way they speak to colleagues, other elected members, the way they conduct themselves in public life and the way they think they can speak to people,” said Coun Kelly.
“But they do that because they see there’s no consequence to their actions, there’s no punishment. And we see time and time again councillors being found to have broken the code of conduct.”
Coun Kelly says his frustrations with the council’s handling of disciplinary matters date back to 2018, when Coun Faisal Rana stepped down from his cabinet position after accepting a police caution for voting twice in the local elections. Coun Rana said it was a ‘genuine mistake’ and he had misunderstood the rules.
In the same year, former leader Allen Brett admitted to bringing the authority into disrepute over comments about withholding highways funding from non-Labour voting areas. The one-time Labour boss said his remarks were ‘banter’ and was required to undertake further code of conduct training.
Back in March, councillors unanimously signed up to the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate campaign, which aims to improve support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation. However, Coun Kelly warned a full council meeting at the time that councillors must meet the same standards they demand of others - or face accusations of double standards.
His amendment to an original Tory motion - calling on all political groups to sign up to an ‘anti-bullying’ code of conduct - was supported across the board. Conservative Coun Peter Winkler was among those who backed him- claiming that name calling, abuse and threats were regularly used by some members.
Coun Kelly says the situation is ongoing - and questions the point in the training if the council is not going to impose serious sanctions on those who breach the code of conduct.
“Now you find out complaints have gone in from members of staff and other councillors. What is going on?” he said. “Even if you are found guilty, where’s the consequences.”
A spokesperson for Rochdale council said: “Councillors in every local authority are routinely provided with the training, guidance and support that enables them to perform their role effectively.
“Policies and procedures are also regularly reviewed and updated where necessary to ensure they are suitable.”
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