Fakenham councillor Jim Rockett set to go before district council standards committee over bullying accusations

A long-serving councillor is facing accusations of abuse, bullying and sharing confidential information following an incident that remains a mystery.

Jim Rockett, a Fakenham town councillor, will go before North Norfolk District Council’s standards committee to face a hearing that could result in him being reprimanded.

It will be held just a week before Christmas to determine if he has breached the code of conduct at the council.

The complaint relates to an original incident and then two further alleged breaches.

Details are being kept confidential at this time, although the council has released some details.

He has been accused of acting disrespectfully, bullying and abusive behaviour on March 22 this year.

He has also allegedly leaked confidential information about the complaint to other members of the council.

If Cllr Rockett were to make a written apology, the situation could be resolved - but he has refused.

While the details surrounding the incident remain scant, at a meeting in October, minutes suggest there was a disagreement between a councillor and the clerk over access to confidential papers.

The unnamed councillor was reportedly upset after being refused access to this information outside of the office, at the request of North Norfolk District Council (NNDC).

Councillors were subsequently asked to refrain from putting officers under pressure to provide these confidential documents.

The clerk reminded councillors to “follow the correct procedures if unhappy with a situation”.

Members of the standards committee at NNDC will decide what action to take on December 19.

Cllr Rockett and Fakenham Town Council have been approached for comment.