Councillor warned over abusive tweet
ATOP councillor who called members of community organisations ‘sock puppet w ****** ’ on Twitter has been warned about using ‘abusive’ language by town hall bosses.
A complaint was made to Stockport council that executive member Kate Butler used the phrase to describe entrepreneur Joe Barratt and the community organisations he ‘represents’ on the social media site.
The Reddish North councillor, who is in charge of economy and regeneration, was said to have apologised and deleted the tweet when Mr Barratt questioned her about it in January.
Mr Barratt is cofounder of Stockport’s Teenage Market and director of the Seven Miles Out project. Town hall bosses have upheld the complaint, stating that Coun Butler breached the councillors’ code of conduct, in relation to two sections - 3.1(b), which states ‘[You must not] bully or be abusive to any person’; and 5, which reads ‘you must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or the council into disrepute’.
In a letter to Mr Barratt, seen by our sister newspaper the M.E.N, the council’s interim head of legal and democratic services and monitoring officer, Patrick Arran, said he did not consider Coun Butler’s tweet to be bullying, but said the ‘language was abusive’.
“Councillor Butler did use the term ‘sock puppet w ****** ’ in a tweet and the language used was inappropriate,” the letter read.
“I do not consider that councillor Butler’s tweet was bullying, but the language was abusive. Likewise, the language used can reasonably be regarded as bringing the office of councillor into disrepute.”
Mr Arran said he had spoken to Coun Butler about the matter and provided her with ‘clear advice in relation to what she places in the public domain, which she accepted unequivocally’.
“Councillor Butler accepted that her conduct was unacceptable and demonstrated remorse for the episode,” he added.
“Councillor Butler has readily admitted making an error of judgement and it is my view that training would be the appropriate response to your complaint on this occasion.
“Councillor Butler will also be warned about her future conduct and advised as to her use of social media. I will also ask Councillor Butler to provide you with an apology.
“That now concludes the matter.”
Mr Barratt tweeted that he had accepted Coun Butler’s apology.
Council leader Alex Ganotis said: “The matter is now concluded, Kate has very graciously chosen to also issue a public apology and she is an excellent cabinet member who retains my full confidence.”
Coun Butler declined to comment.