Chapel-en-le-Frith councillor calls member of the public a ‘t***’ on Zoom
and live on Freeview channel 276
Councillor Tony Dales’ comments were picked up through the microphone of another councillor - who was sitting in another room in his house.
Tony had invited fellow councillor Carole Cobb to use a laptop in a separate room in his home after hers malfunctioned.
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Hide AdIn the recording Coun Dales can be heard saying to Coun Cobb ‘what I am not having in future is this t*** Nick Hill putting his comments on all the way through the meeting’.
He added: “That cannot be correct can it Carole?”
As he said this council clerk Sue Stockwell added ‘Tony we can hear you’.
A copy of the recording - made during last night’s meeting (June 2) - was posted on YouTube today.
Speaking about the video Coun Dales confirmed the meeting had ended when he made the comment and his microphone was turned off.
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Hide AdThe Chapel West Ward councillor said he used the swear word out of frustration after Nick Hill typed comments on Zoom throughout the meeting.
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Hide AdHe told how there had been ‘a big argument’ during the meeting and one of Nick Hill’s comments included a wry quip after a vicar suggested a prayer at the end.
Nick wrote (SIC): “Top work Reverend It will need to be a good one”.
Tony said: “If this had been a normal parish council meeting he would have been asked to leave – I thought this was out of order but couldn't say anything.
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Hide Ad“Carole was set-up in another room – socially-distanced as her computer had gone down - and my comment was private.
“At the end of the day I thought Nick’s behaviour during the meeting was disgraceful and if he had been there I would have said ‘Nick don’t be such a t***’.”
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Hide AdSue Stockwell, clerk of Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council, confirmed the meeting had already ended when the comments were made.
However another councillor Nigel Gourlay branded the comments ‘arrogant’.
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Hide AdHe said: “It’s fine for councillors to insult each other but when they insult members of the public that’s out of order.”