AN ‘aggressive’ and ‘intimidating’ councillor has been suspended for three months after he breached codes of conduct at a council meeting.
Councillor Robert (Bob) Barton lost his appeal against Denbighshire County Council’s standards committee decision that he breached both Llanarmon yn Ial and Llandegla's community councils’ rules.
Cllr Barton broke the community councils’ codes of conduct at a meeting of Llanferres Community Council on July 10 2008.
He was attending the meeting as a member of the public and sat in the public gallery, he asked to address the council on a matter and the council said it did not want to hear from him.
It is alleged he spoke with a loud voice whilst the councillors discussed that item.
Councillors and members of the public said he continued to interrupt and the chairman warned Cllr Barton if he didn't stop interrupting he would have to leave.
Cllr Barton responded “I would like to see him make me.”
The next day a member of the public complained to the Ombudsman that Cllr Barton's behaviour was aggressive and imtimidating and an investigation was launched.
The Ombudsman referred the matter to the standard's committee of Denbighshire County Council who found on November 2009 Cllr Barton had failed to comply with codes of conduct.
Cllr Barton told the Ombudsman due to Asperger's Syndrome he has little control of his reactions and was awaiting formal NHS support.
He said: “The chairman of the council was well aware of his Asperger's but has consistently ignored it and the chairman and members of the public know how to goad him and on this occasion they succeeded.”
He added he was not asked to leave the meeting he was asked if he would like to leave, which he answered 'no'.
The appeal tribunal heard five councillors give evidence.
The clerk of the council meeting said: "Although he is no longer a member of Llanferres Community Council he can’t let go."
Cllr Barton said he made the comment to a member of the public in a 'jocular fashion' but it backfired.
The tribunal report said: "In the light of such weight of evidence the appeal tribunal found Cllr Barton's conduct and attitude towards the chairman was arrogant and domineering, showing disregard for the chairman and his office and generally disrespectful."
"The tribunal is also concerned Cllr Barton seemed unwilling to give any real assurances that this would not happen again nor to apologise."
The tribunal unanimously decided to uphold Denbighshire County Council's original guilty verdict.
In 2006 Cllr Barton was also investigated by the Ombudsman in relation to a similar matter but no action was taken.