A MIDDLEWICH town councillor has been suspended from all committee meetings and banned from directly contacting the town clerk after it was found that his behaviour "constituted bullying".

Labour Cllr David Williams made a complaint against town clerk Jonathan Williams in the wake of the GHA Bus collapse, with the issue referred to an independent HR consultant before being dismissed.

The town council’s personnel committee, along with the Cheshire Association of Local Councils (CHALC), a solicitor, the council’s HR provider and the Cheshire East Council monitoring officer, then investigated more of Cllr Williams’ behaviour towards the clerk.

A decision, relayed to members in part two of November’s Middlewich Town Council meeting, ruled that the behaviour over a period of time '"constituted bullying" and that action be taken against Cllr Williams in order to uphold the council’s duty of care to its staff.

A further report by personnel committee chairman Cllr Bill Walmsley was put before council on Monday night, but was deferred to part two of next month's full council meeting after Labour members questioned its accuracy.

Cllr Williams has challenged the allegation and says he is seeking legal advice.

Cllr Walmsley’s report reads: “Some months ago a complaint was raised by a councillor against the town clerk and a report of this appeared in the local press.

“During this period concerns were raised about the excessive number of emails sent by this councillor to the clerk, the tone of many of which was aggressive and insulting.

“This went on for many months and also included the use of social media.”

Cllr Walmsley’s report adds that an independent HR consultant reviewed the emails and spoke to staff, although Cllr Williams “refused to take part in any way”. The consultant concluded that the complaint could not be upheld but that there were “failings” in the council processes.

Cllr Williams said: “No complaint has been made about my conduct, although I have received an anonymous document which makes false allegations of bullying.

“It criticises the number of questions and motions I submit to the council, but they are the result of concerns raised with me on the doorstep by residents.

“It outlines grievances the town clerk has articulated and I have requested a ‘clear the air meeting’, a request I first made over a year ago and I await a response.

“There are serious questions about whether Middlewich First councillors have operated within the code of conduct, particularly in terms of honesty, a solicitor is being consulted and I am seeking advice. So I have no wish to comment further at this stage.”

In order to mitigate what it calls a ‘significant employment law risk’, the personnel committee recommended that Cllr Williams have no direct contact with council staff and be suspended from all committee meetings for the remainder of his time in office.

The council will pursue utilising the services of someone with political authority over Cllr Williams to discuss the issues with him, while Cllr Williams is also required to undertake CHALC councillor induction training within 12 months.

Mediation is to be offered to Cllr Williams and Mr Williams.