Councillor suspended for bullying his clerk

Coun Ronald Law, who is a member of Wales Parish Council, was suspended following a tribunal hearing which was held in Rotherham last Friday. The hearing was called after an official complaint was made that Coun Law had bullied Jane Anthony, the clerk to Wales Parish Council, which covers the villages of Wales and Kiveton Park, near Sheffield.

The Local Government Standards in England tribunal was held to investigate the complaint from Rotherham Council's standards committee that Coun Law had failed to follow the parish council's code of conduct.

The tribunal decided that Coun Law failed to follow the provisions of the code over a period in January and February 2010, while acting in his official capacity.

The finding of the tribunal said: "By his aggressive and intimidating behaviour he failed to treat the parish clerk with respect, bullied her and brought the role of councillor of Wales Parish Council into disrepute."

The tribunal decided that Coun Law, who had been a member of the council for nearly four years should be suspended from the parish council until April 30.

Coun Gill Shaw, chair of the parish council who accompanied the clerk at the tribunal and had supported her with her complaint against Coun Law, said she was pleased with the decision because of the way the clerk had been treated. She said yesterday: "It has been a very difficult time for the authority and we have had to take advice from Rotherham Council, which referred the case to the Local Government Standards in England tribunal."

Coun Shaw added that after Coun Law's suspension ended parish council elections would be taking place in May so it was difficult to say whether Coun Law would return to the authority when his suspension ended.

Coun Law was not available for comment last night.