Kingsclere parish councillor cleared of bullying allegation

Richard Smith was cleared of the allegation at a meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s standards committee on February 20.
The borough council confirmed that Mr Smith had been accused of breaching sections of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct with reference to treating others with respect; not bullying anyone; doing anything to compromise, or would be likely to compromise, the impartiality of those who work for or on behalf of the council; and conducting oneself in a manner that could reasonably be regarded as bringing their authority, or office into disrepute.
After an investigation report, the borough council said that members of the standards committee had accepted its findings that the allegations, which were first lodged in March 2010, were not founded.
Speaking after the committee’s decision, Mr Smith said he was “glad it’s over after having it hanging over me for two years”.
In November last year, Mr Smith lodged a complaint against former Kingsclere parish councillor Janet Bond, alleging that she had breached the section of the code about treating others with respect.
The borough council said that an investigation report into this complaint against Mrs Bond, who is also a Kingsclere villager and a former mayor of Reading, is due to be presented to the standards committee on March 19.
Mrs Bond has previously said that she was unable to comment while the matter was in progress.
Mrs Bond resigned from Kingsclere Parish Council in July, partly owing to what she said was an “aggressive atmosphere” at meetings.
In April 2010, Mr Smith had submitted a joint resignation from the parish council together with former parish councillor, Len Potts, following a row at a parish council meeting.
In May of the following year (2011), Mr Smith was re-elected to the parish council unopposed.
The Councillors’ Code of Conduct is a national code adopted by councils across the country, including district, borough and parish councils.