A Conservative councillor has breached the code of conduct over Union Flag bunting displayed in a council office, and by republishing a controversial story regarding the bunting and political imagery displayed in a Tory group's chamber.
The saga began when a former council monitoring officer, Bryn Roberts, requested Conservative councillors remove the Union Flag bunting and images of Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill from their group room at the North Tyneside Council's HQ. Concerns were raised the imagery could be seen by the Newcastle-upon-Tyne public and that the council's building should be a "politically neutral venue".
While Coun Bones denied the images could be seen by the public. Mr Roberts acknowledged a Union Flag had always flown outside the council offices, but he was concerned when the flag was used "as part of a political display".
On June 15 2021, Coun Bones republished a Daily Mail article on the controversy on the North Shields Life website, run by Coun Bones in conjunction with others. The standards committee investigation, conducted by law firm Bevan Brittan, found that in republishing the article Coun Bones, acting in his capacity as a councillor, had breached the council's General Conduct code, Chronicle Live reports.
The report stated: "The councillor actively pushed the article in the local media and this action by the councillor is, in our view, likely to undermine the relationship of mutual trust, respect and courtesy between elected members and officers as set out in the protocol. We find that in republishing the article, the councillor failed to promote a positive relationship between members and officers and was, in fact, likely to undermine it, whilst also representing a failure to avoid personal criticism for other members and officers.
"We find that this failure to avoid personal criticism of the monitoring officer and associated undermining of the relationship of mutual trust and respect represented a failure to treat the officer with respect". The investigation also claimed coun Bones did not go through the proper channels to raise conservative concerns about an alleged lack of political neutrality by the former officer. Coun Bones denied this.
During questioning, Coun Bones said: "If councillors are unable to criticise members or officers, then what is the point of councillors? If we cannot criticise members or officers then this role is useless. This is North Tyneside, not North Korea".
The council's standards committee ordered the Preston representative to write a letter of apology to Bryn Roberts and undergo training from the current monitoring officer. Coun Bones was cleared of bringing the office of the councillor or the local authority into disrepute. Coun Bones has filed an appeal on the council's standards committee's decision.
After the hearing, Coun Bones told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The Labour-run standards committee have unfortunately ruled against me in this latest hearing of Kangaroo Court. The decision today is a further example of Labour using their position to clamp down on free speech and criticism of any kind, at a cost of thousands to the taxpayer.
"Throughout this process, I have been happy to accept recommendations of training and have offered apologies where requested. The recommendation that I undergo training was already by myself and the independent investigation, instead Labour have wasted time and money on this show trial.
"Despite this ruling against me I still firmly believe the Union Jack should be allowed to be on display in council buildings."
A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “North Tyneside Council always endeavours to promote and maintain the highest standards of conduct by our Councillors. Our standards committee has upheld one aspect of a complaint against a councillor. The committee found that in relation to that aspect of the complaint there had been a breach of our Members’ Code of Conduct. All parties will be notified of this decision in writing. A review has been requested meaning that the decision is in abeyance and will be independently re-examined.”
