Councillor cleared after investigation following officer’s formal complaint
ACONSERVATIVE councillor who was investigated by Cotswold District Council over alleged “unprofessional” behaviour towards a police officer did not breach the council’s code of conduct and faces no further action, the authority said.
According to an email seen by the Echo, Sergeant Andrew Wood of Gloucestershire Constabulary sent a formal complaint to the council last month accusing councillor Mark Annett of swearing and “expressed a desire for someone to be injured” after he was anonymously tipped-off about Mr Annett having potentially breached lockdown rules.
Mr Annett (C, Campden and Vale), a former Cotswold District Council leader, has firmly denied all of the allegations made and the authority has concluded Mr Annett did not breach the council members’ code of conduct.
And Sgt Wood confirmed he was satisfied by Mr Annett’s explanation for the alleged breach of lockdown rules.
Sgt Wood alleged Mr Annett said that whoever had provided the police with information “need their f ****** heads kicked in”.
Mr Annett was council leader from May 2017 to September 2018, but stepped down due to “health reasons”.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said the officer “acted appropriately in making the complaint and the council deemed it suitable for internal investigation”, and the district council’s Conservative group leader Richard Morgan said the party has not received any complaint from the police officer.
On April 22, Sgt Wood emailed a Cotswold District Council officer with a formal complaint explaining he received anonymous information that Mr Annett was “letting out one of his properties as a holiday let” during the lockdown.
According to the email, Sgt Wood called Mr Annett to “ascertain the facts” and was “satisfied” with Mr Annett’s explanation.
Sgt Wood claimed how Mr Annett “was clearly angry, and thought the information came from two possible sources” the email said.
Sgt Wood then alleged Mr Annett said the anonymous complainant “need their f ******* heads kicked in”.
After Mr Annett allegedly was told by Sgt Wood he didn’t “appreciate that sort of language”, Mr Annett allegedly said: “I don’t care.”
Sgt Wood claimed Mr Annett “would not let me speak, and tried to talk over me, which I was not prepared to do”.
Sgt Wood then claimed Mr Annett said: “You know what, it takes a virus for the police to put an appearance in Chipping Campden.”
Concluding the formal complaint, Sgt Wood claimed Mr Annett “breached the district council’s code of conduct by failing to follow the principles of public life with regards to honesty and leadership, as he failed to promote and support high standards of conduct by embodying the principles of public life and leading by example”.
However, the district council said: “It was held that Mr Annett had not breached the Council Members Code of Conduct.”
A spokeswoman said: “The complaint was dealt with under the council’s procedures for dealing with member complaints, which includes consultation with an independent person who has no connection with the council. Following consideration of the complaint in line with the due process, it was held that Cllr Annett had not breached the Council Members Code of Conduct.”
The Echo put every allegation to Mr Annett and he denied every single one.
Mr Annett said: “I understand that a complaint was made to Cotswold District Council, and the monitoring officer reviewed it. The complaint was dismissed. I was exonerated.”
Conservative group leader councillor Richard Morgan (Grumbolds Ash with Avening) said: “Neither I or the Conservative Party have received any complaint from the police officer relating to this matter.
“We would of course have taken any complaint very seriously and have established procedures in place to do so. As such, there is no case to answer.”
A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesman said: “An officer did make a complaint about the conduct of a councillor to Cotswold District Council and the council carried out an investigation. The officer acted appropriately in making the complaint and the council deemed it suitable for internal investigation. We work in close partnership with Cotswold District Council on a number of issues and can reassure the public this will continue.”
We work in close partnership with Cotswold District Council on a number of issues and can reassure the public this will continue.
Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesman