Chapel-en-le-Frith councillor calls member of the public a ‘t***’ on Zoom

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.

In 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.

The Chapel West Ward councillor said he used the swear word out of frustration after Nick Hill typed comments on Zoom throughout the meeting.

He 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.

“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***’.”

Sue 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’.

He said: “It’s fine for councillors to insult each other but when they insult members of the public that’s out of order.”

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