‘Concern’ at reports of bullying in city council

FOURTEEN current and recent former members of Cardiff council say they have been victims of bullying within the authority, while 25 say they have witnessed bullying between councillors.

More than 80 local politicians, who served as councillors during the period 2012-17, were invited by the standards and ethics committee to participate in an “exit survey”, with 46 of them responding.

In addition to the 14 councillors who said they had been bullied, 12 said they had been subjected to “discriminatory behaviours”.

On top of the 25 who had witnessed bullying between councillors, 12 said they had witnessed bullying between councillors and officers.

A report to the committee, which meets on Monday, also expresses concern about “conduct in some full council meetings” which it said risked affecting the council’s reputation.

The report says a number of questions about bullying and discriminatory behaviour were included in the survey to councillors, as such issues were sometimes raised during committee hearings.

It says the level of bullying alluded to was of concern to the committee, adding: “The monitoring officer confirmed that this issue was being taken up with group leaders and whips and that she was underlining the responsibilities of members and groups in this regard.”

A confidential counselling service available for employees has now been extended for use by councillors.

Non-councillors who sit as independent members of the committee had been concerned about behaviour and lack of respect shown during a full council meeting, and a particular incident between a councillor and a member of the public in attendance in the public gallery.

The report says: “Full council meetings went on for too long, making it difficult for members to stay focused during the whole meeting ... councillors were talking over each other, showing disrespect for the chair; and many councillors were seen leaving the meeting early.”

The committee also decided it would be helpful to remind councillors about guidance on the use of social media, given that there had been “inappropriate” comments made on social media platforms by some of them.

The monitoring officer had told the committee that the council did not have the resources to routinely monitor councillors’ posts, but would consider any complaints made or issues raised.

In a foreword to the committee’s annual report, the committee’s chairman Richard Tebborth said: “The exit survey findings on incidents of bullying or discriminatory behaviour raised concerns, which required addressing.

“The committee welcomes moves to strengthen training on these subjects, to provide confidential counselling support to members if required, to continue to monitor members’ perceptions and to ensure any alleged incidents are properly dealt with.

“Committee members shared widespread concern about levels of conduct in some full council meetings which attracted adverse comment in public media and risked affecting the overall reputation of the council. It also undermines the great dedication that individual councillors bring to their everyday work in their role.

“The new council gives the opportunity for a fresh start in this regard.”