Increase in Allegations Made About Parish, Town & District Councillors' Standards in Public Office

Bullying and harassment allegations have been made on twenty occasions against parish, town and district councillors working in the West Lindsey district, the Lincolnshire Echo today report.

The list of alleged misdemeanours released by West Lindsey District Council also includes eight claims of councillors failing to declare interests and six for using their position improperly.

The authority has received fifty-eight complaints about the behaviour of members since May 2008 with the number soaring from eighteen in 2008/09 to forty in 2009/10.

The council says its assessment sub-committee considered all requests with twenty-two referred for further investigation, which has included asking Standards for England to examine the issue.

West Lindsey Ditrict Council spokesman, Mr. Geoff O'Neill, said:

"Many of the complaints result from a lack of understanding by councillors and in these cases the panel will often recommend training as a way to resolve issues."

Caistor Town Council has received twenty-four while West Lindsey District Council recieve ten and Gainsborough Town Council seven. Members from parish councils which have come under scrutiny include Kexby, Faldingworth, Cherry Willingham and Bardney.