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West Norfolk councillor censured over offensive text message




A councillor who used an expletive to refer to a fellow council member must undergo ethics training, a panel has ruled.

A three-strong panel of councillors met in Lynn yesterday to discuss the incident, which involved independent member Mike Howland using the offensive term as a reference to Conservative Shimit Patel.

Mr Patel is himself the subject of another council inquiry – which has been paused to allow the police to establish whether a crime has taken place.

King's Court, Borough Council of West Norfolk.. (49703902)
King's Court, Borough Council of West Norfolk.. (49703902)

The press and public were excluded from most of Tuesday’s hearing, on the grounds that the discussion related to “any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime”.

But the hearing’s conclusion was announced publicly by its chairman, the borough's deputy mayor, Lesley Bambridge.

In a statement read to the session, Miss Bambridge said the panel had concluded Mr Howland did breach the authority's code of conduct.

She continued: “The panel is in no doubt that a communication to another borough councillor was written and sent by councillor Howland, which has been seen and read by other councillors…”

The communication was a text message which referred to Mr Patel as "s***face" and was meant to be disrespectful.

The panel said the code of conduct did apply because the message was sent by one elected member to another and referred to council business.

But Miss Bambridge added: “Whilst the panel understands why councillor Patel may have perceived the term used to have racial connotations, the panel does not consider that councillor Howland intended it to have racial connotations.”

However, the judgment also said Mr Howland had “failed to engage with this complaints process in a transparent and accountable way.

The panel recommended training in view of current health issues that Mr Howland faces.

Mr Howland, who was not present at the hearing, said he had not yet been made aware of the full details of the decision, and was therefore unable to comment. Mr Patel said he had no comment.

The hearing was told that a formal decision notice would be issued within seven days.



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