SANCTIONS against a councillor who has been reprimanded over bullying claims have been upheld by a parish council.

Hughenden Parish councillor Linda Derrick has been censured by Buckinghamshire Council’s standards committee for breaches of the members' code of conduct.

Three complaints had been made against Cllr Derrick made by two former employees of the council and one former councillor.

A Hearing Sub-Committee of Buckinghamshire Council found earlier this year that the councillor committed multiple breaches of the code.

This involved making unreasonable demands to an officer to see documentation, and posting online blog comments in criticism of the same employee.

A third incident involved councillor Derrick making unreasonable requirements that a witness be present for her meetings with another employee, and that meetings between them be recorded.

The hearing ruled that councillor Derrick failed to treat each officer with respect in all three cases. It was also found that the councillor's actions in the first and third complaints were 'bullying in nature, given the distress caused'.

As part of the proceedings, Bucks Council sub committee recommended a number of sanctions be made against councillor Derrick including that she should make a written apology to both former members of staff.

The sanctions also included:

  • Cllr Derrick be formally censured by the Parish Council
  • That the breaches and sanctions be publicised
  • Cllr Derrick attend training on several topics - the councillor - officer relationship, the handling of personal data, and her obligations under the Code of Conduct
  • Cllr Derrick is excluded from Hughenden Parish Council’s premises, except to attend formal meetings, until she has undertaken the recommended training

On April 3, 2023, Hughenden Parish Council voted by majority to apply all sanctions recommended by Bucks Council.

A statement said: "It was not open to the Parish Council to reconsider the investigation or to reach any different conclusions about it. Nor could the Council determine other sanctions to those recommended by the Sub-Committee.

"The Parish Council’s role was to determine whether to apply the recommended sanctions, for the reasons given in the Buckinghamshire Council Decision Notice.

"The Council expressed the view that in applying sanctions on Cllr Derrick it has reinforced its commitment to provide a safe and constructive working environment for its employees and to meet Councillors’ duty to uphold high standards of public service."

The hearing of Bucks Council also noted that councillor Derrick did not breach the code on two other points. Councillor Derrick’s behaviour in posting the blog comments about a staff member was not bullying as it caused no significant upset to the employee.

It also found councillor Derrick’s refusal to meet an employee without witnesses or recordings, while disrespectful, did not amount to harassment, being a one-off matter.

Following the initial breach of conduct hearing, councillor Derrick affirmed she will not be resigning and did not believe she had breached the code of conduct.

She said: "I do not believe I have breached the Code of Conduct. I would advise other councillors, particularly those like me who are not members of the Conservative party, to read my blogs and see what BC thinks constitutes a breach.   

"I will not be resigning as a councillor and will continue to represent my constituents to the best of my ability."