A COUNCILLOR has lodged a formal complaint against the leader of Thurrock Council who called on an Independent member to apologise after a conduct panel found he had been racist reports the Local Democracy Reporter.
The Thurrock Council standards and audit panel upheld racism complaints against Gary Byrne in February after he used a Stanford-le-Hope group’s Facebook page to suggest a candidate had used photoshop to lighten their skin to gain votes in the run up to last year’s local elections.
Mr Byrne, Independent councillor for The Homesteads, was asked to apologise and to undergo training and it was reported that he had done so.
However, speaking at Wednesday’s council meeting, Andrew Jefferies, leader of the council cast doubt on whether Mr Bryne had complied with the findings.
Pledging that his group would not tolerate racism, he said: “This particular complaint was upheld and the standards and audit panel was clear that the councillor was racist. The standards and audit panel asked the member to complete a training course and apologise. It saddens me that neither appear to have been done although it was reported in Thurrock Nub News that both had been done.
“It also saddens me that the subsequent comments on social media about this racism has continued with this member liking posts that reaffirms this racism. I’d like to ask councillor Byrne to reflect on his actions since the standards and audit committee met and after reflecting offer a public apology for any hurt that’s been caused and to agree with me that racism in all its ugly forms should not be tolerated in this chamber, on social media and in the community at large.”
Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West and editor of Thurrock Nub News, called Mr Jefferies comments “appalling”.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Byrne, he said: “What we actually witnessed this evening was a personal and subjective attack on a member of this council. It was an opinion.
“I felt it was entirely inappropriate that the leader expressed not just his personal opinion but a political statement on behalf of his group regarding racism. I would like to make a formal complaint. I will ask the legal team to look at it.”
Speaking after the meeting Mr Byrne said: ” I apologised in writing within 24 hours of the panel hearing, which was acknowledged by the monitoring officer. At the hearing I agreed to undertake all the training specified, again confirmed in writing.
“The council’s democratic services team has to arrange the training and has not done, yet nor offered dates but I will attend it and partake as soon as it is arranged.
“Cllr Jefferies’ comments last night were nothing short of slanderous. They did not reflect the findings and decisions of the panel hearing.
Cllr Jefferies and some of his colleagues are attempting to play games and weaponise racism.
It is appalling and an affront to all the people in Thurrock who are working so hard for community unity.”
Mr Speight had himself earlier apologised for criticising council officers and calling them “pen pushers”. He said: “I realised I’d overstepped the mark by using the phrase pen pushers. It is a derogatory remark that could be perceived by someone involved in drawing up the budget that it was aimed at them and that is unfair.”
