Member brought council into disrepute with attack
ACOUNCILLOR convicted of assault has been found to have brought his council into disrepute.
Sandwell Council’s ethics and standards committee found against Labour councillor Steve Melia and recommended he be removed of any committee titles he holds.
Cllr Melia pleaded guilty to assault in February this year at Dudley magistrates court.
The incident took place last year outside Sandwell Council in Freeth Street, Oldbury.
At the time, the court heard Julian Saunders, a blogger who writes under the title ‘The Sandwell Skidder’, was seen filming councillors walking across a car park before entering Sandwell Council ahead of a full meeting.
Mr Saunders questioned the councillors about potential corruption and cronyism. Councillor Melia then walked past, pointed a finger at Mr Saunders, and knocked his phone out of his hand.
The ethics and standards committee met to consider whether councillor Melia’s actions had breached Sandwell council’s code and conduct.
Labour councillor Keith Allcock, chair of the committee, concluded councillor Melia was acting in his official capacity as a councillor at the time as he was engaging with members of the public on public property.
Councillor Allcock also concluded Cllr Melia had breached the council’s code of conduct.
He said: “As a councillor, you are in the public eye and you will be faced with challenging situations. It is up to you to maintain restraint and professionalism at all times when carrying out official duties.
“We are concerned that you have not shown remorse for your actions in proceedings today.
“Councillors have an important role. We have concluded that your conduct during the incident and the lack of remorse today falls short of the highest standard that is expected of our elected members.”
The committee listened to an external investigator, Miranda Carruthers-Watt, conclude her findings.
She interviewed councillor Melia, Mr Saunders, and two other councillors present to the incident, councillors Luke Giles and Sukbir Singh Gill.
She said while there was a “considerable history” between Sandwell council and Mr Saunders – in reference to several articles about a previous disagreement – she said it “should not affect the decision in this committee with regard to this complaint”.
Councillor Melia denied causing injury to Mr Saunders, referring to local media reports which claimed there was “no reported injuries and no property damage”.
He said: “In court, Mr Saunders said he got injuries to his arms and there were chips and damage to his camera.”
Conservative councillor Amrita Dunn reiterated that Cllr Melia was acting in his official capacity as the assault took place as the footage showed he had his council pass in hand.
She said: “Members of the public don’t need a permit to film – you were walking to a council meeting. I’d say that was probably in your capacity as a councillor, going to a council meeting, to do your duty as a councillor.”
Cllr Melia has also been ordered to make a full apology to Sandwell Council at the next full meeting, and will undergo further training into handling vexatious members of the public.