Standards, Complaints and the Fall out

As a former Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, I have always believed that leadership is not just about making policy—it's about protecting and celebrating the people who make those policies work. 

For years, our dedicated council officers have kept the wheels turning, often under immense pressure.

However, I am writing this today to address a dark chapter that our administration had to confront: the persistent bullying and intimidation of our officers by a senior councillor.

Last night the Audit committee considered the process of the complaint and why it took so long. What was not allowed to be considered was the lasting effect the issue had on the FODDC.

The decision to speak up about the Councillor's behaviour was not taken lightly, but it was necessary. We had seen first-hand the "dread" that officers felt. No professional should ever have to walk into their workplace feeling undermined or fearful because of an elected member's conduct.

I must express my sincere regret that, as a council, we allowed this to go on for as long as it did. The culture of a local authority is defined by what it tolerates, and for too long, the behaviour of certain individuals was overlooked or brushed aside as "difficult relationships".

The Councillor had, with the support of others, positioned himself to become the deal maker, offering support for positions within council and policy in return for similar support and perhaps tolerance of his approach.

When we made a stand against this bullying behaviour, the backlash was swift. 

The individual concerned—a long-standing and influential figure—used his significant position, political leverage, as well as the confidentiality afforded standards complaints, to orchestrate the removal of my administration from power.

By manipulating the political landscape, he succeeded in shifting the balance of the council, ultimately clearing the path for the Green Party to take over the leadership. 

Now, in itself, that does not matter. The Greens had won more seats than any other group in the 2023 election, and although not in the majority, they certainly had the right to try to form an administration. What was stark was how this Councillor, whom we had spoken out against, changed from being completely anti-Green to supporting the new administration almost overnight, and members of his group followed him.

This was perhaps the price to pay for doing the right thing, but I would make the same choice again. Eventually, integrity cannot be traded for political survival.

What has followed has been perhaps even more damaging.

Despite the serious allegations, the subsequent investigation took an extraordinary amount of time—beginning officially in early 2023 and only reaching a conclusion in late 2025.

During this period, much of the process was hidden behind closed doors. To have spoken out about the seriousness of the officers' complaints would damage the process we were told

This secrecy and delay allowed the individual to continue his work within the council, manipulating votes and influencing policy to the long-term detriment of the Forest of Dean.

When the Standards Panel finally upheld the complaints—finding clear evidence of disrespect, bullying, and a failure to act in the public trust—the damage to our local democracy was already serious.

The council has recently voted for significant sanctions, including a three-year ban from committees for the councillor involved. While these measures are a step toward accountability, they come years after the first alarms were raised. In this case, over a decade

My primary hope now is for the officers involved. I hope that with these findings made public and these sanctions in place, they will finally feel safe, respected, and valued in their workplace.

We owe them nothing less than a culture of absolute dignity and professional respect.

Now we must draw a line I suppose. I don't think Councillors will get to fully debate what really went on or understand the way the entire council was manipulated. It is, however, the end of a very difficult period.