Torridge District councillor's email suspended after 'threatening and abusive behaviour'
The council’s monitoring officer began receiving complaints against Cllr Len Ford last March
A Torridge District councillor has had his council email address suspended for “intimidating and verbally abusive behaviour,” during which he “weaponised” the council’s email system.
Councillor Len Ford (Independent, Appledore) will not be able to access his council email address for at least six months nor will he be able to enter councillor offices at Riverbank House, Bideford following a decision by Torridge District Council (TDC).
Last March the council’s monitoring officer began receiving complaints against Cllr Ford about “threatening, abusive behaviour” through emails “and other literature that was being put up around the Torridge area.”
Councillors and officers have been the main targets of Mr Ford’s angst, with many reporting receiving abusive phone messages and emails.
Councillor Doug Bushby received messages on his answerphone with “every expletive under the sun.” Councillor Philip Hackett (Independent, Broadheath) described emails from Cllr Ford as “indecipherable rants.”
Last year the council approached the Local Government Association and an independent investigation took place.
Following the findings of that investigation, in August the council’s standards committee concluded Cllr Ford “had displayed threatening, intimidating and verbally abusive behaviour both in person and in public places.”
It ordered him write apologies to the people affected.
At the August meeting, which Cllr Ford refused to attend, he was banned from council offices other than to go to council meetings. He is only allowed to visit at others times with agreement of the council’s chief executive.
Councillor Ford refused to write the letters of apology, meaning his case was sent back to TDC’s standards committee last month, with the recommendation that further action was taken at the full council meeting on 31 January.
At that meeting, councillors agreed to make the issue public and voted unanimously to suspend Cllr Ford’s official council email address for at least six months, after which time a decision will be made whether or not to extend the ban.
Councillor Simon Newton (Winkleigh), leader of the Conservative group, said: “As part of his relentless campaign of unsubstantiated but highly intimidating allegations against members and officers, Cllr Ford has, in effect, weaponised the Torridge District Council email system to an extent where the efficiency and reputation of the council has been placed at risk.”
Cllr Claire Hodson, deputy leader of the council, (Independent, Westward Ho!) said: “It is not appropriate. We have a duty of care to each other and to our serving staff.”
Mr Ford wasn’t around to hear their discussion. He’d left the meeting earlier after berating his fellow members. “It actually saddens me and sickens me to be here,” he told them.
Nevertheless, Cllr Ford did hear the reading of a letter signed by the five group leaders at TDC. In it, the councillors said they had “deep concerns” that Cllr Ford was “becoming hugely damaging to the reputation and perception of the council, elected members and staff to the outside world.”
The group leaders also expressed concern about the “damaging effect” his conduct was having “on the council’s staff, their moral and, in particular, the health and wellbeing of those staff being indiscriminately targeted by this unacceptable behaviour.”
Later Cllr Ford described the August standards hearing as a “charade” and that he had a file of legitimate complaints large enough “to sink a battleship with.”
Speaking at full council, Councillor Joanne Manley (Independent, Northam) argued that Cllr Ford’s email address be suspended until the end of his term in May 2023. She also questioned whether Cllr Ford should be allowed a councillor’s allowance.
For now, Mr Ford will continue to serve as a councillor for Appledore. Any residents wishing to contact him will have to reach him by phone or at his address, which can be viewed on the council’s website.
Appledore is also repressed by Green councillor Peter Hames.