South Kesteven Councillor Ashley Baxter Censured following Code of Conduct hearing

Ashley Baxter, a South Kesteven District Councillor will be censured after a Council Officer lodged a complaint against him.

Cllr Baxter faced a Code of Conduct hearing over a "heated conversation" that he had with the official in March. The meeting was closed to the public to protect the identity of the complainants.

He has accepted that his conduct was over the line, and says he has already apologised twice.

The Alliance SK Market and West Deepings Councillor said: "After the meeting, I had a heated conversation with a group of people about the way it had gone."

Cllr Baxter added: "I didn't use abusive, foul or threatening language, but on the way home I realised I shouldn't have been disrespectful.

"I apologised to the person involved the following day, and then again in May. I am happy to do so once again."

Cllr Ashley Baxter

The South Kesteven District Council Leader, Kelham Cooke, has today, 14 December 2022, issued a statement on the findings

"Now the decision notice has been published, it is extremely disappointing that for the first time since the standards rules were created in 2012, an elected member of South Kesteven District Council has breached the code of conduct by a hearing review panel due to the seriousness of the complaints raised against this councillor and his behaviours towards officers of our council.

"Our officers are dedicated and hardworking for all residents across the district, and I am saddened that we find ourselves in the position we do today. I would like to thank our officers for their dedication and commitment to South Kesteven. I hope the Councillor will reflect on his behaviours towards our officers and others for the disrespectful language and stress and anxiety caused to individuals.

"An external monitoring officer had to be brought in to help investigate this to ensure impartiality with the investigation and another to advise the panel. We wouldn't have had to do this, if the Councillor hadn't behaved in such a way that seriously challenged the integrity and professionalism of our officers which I and many others felt strongly we must defend.

"I hope that this Councillor will now reflect on his behaviours towards our officers and fellow members and treat them with the respect that befits the office of being an elected councillor."

The cost of the investigation into the conduct of Cllr Ashley Baxter was over £9,000, which included the hiring of outside legal advisers.

Read more here.

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