Councillor reprimanded for bin worker altercation
LDRSA councillor has been formally reprimanded following an altercation with a bin worker.
A Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council panel upheld several code of conduct breaches made by the Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Jones during an incident on Laburnum Road on 10 September.
The row occurred after Jones's car hit a wheelie bin the worker had been pushing, the panel heard.
Jones, who continues to serve as a councillor, apologised for his actions and will be made to carry out code of conduct training.
The incident occurred after Jones believed a refuse truck was blocking his way, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The truck's CCTV cameras captured Jones with his head out of a car window "gesticulating with his arms" towards the worker.
The councillor then sped over a verge while attempting to pass the truck and hit the wheelie bin the worker had been pushing.
The bin worker claimed he had required physiotherapy after the accident.
'No respect'
The worker said he told Jones he was going to call his supervisors to which Jones swore at him while replying that he was a councillor and so nothing would happen.
Jones denied this and said he only identified himself as a councillor after the worker had sworn at him first.
The panel considered that in either scenario, Jones's reference to his official capacity would be perceived as an indication of seniority over the complainant, made with an intention to influence their actions.
It said his actions were disrespectful to staff and that driving over the verge had shown "little to no respect" for the refuse crew's safety.
Redcar Conservative leader Carolyn Curr said Jones should have had the whip removed.
But Redcar Liberal Democrat leader Jemma Joy said Jones was a "dedicated councillor of many years" and that this incident was an "isolated" one.
She said the group was reviewing various positions held by Jones.
Separately Jones accepted an "out of court disposal" in the form of a safety driving course after he was interviewed by Cleveland Police.
