Public notices

On 15 December 2011, the Standards Hearing Sub-Committee of the council determined that Councillor Stephen Govier should immediately submit a written apology to the chair of the Camberwell Community Council and the planning officer who presented a report to the Camberwell Community Council planning meeting on 24 November 2010. The sub-committee also suspended Councillor Govier for a period of 2 months commencing from 1 January 2012, having found that he had breached paragraph 3.1 and paragraph 5 of the members Code of Conduct.

The Standards Hearing Sub-Committee found that Councillor Govier had breached the Code of Conduct by not treating the planning officer who presented the report at the planning committee of the Camberwell Community Council or the chair of the Community Council with respect at the meeting held on 24 November 2010 and that Councillor Govier’s behaviour at a public meeting brought the office of councillor and indeed Southwark Council itself into disrepute.

The complainant alleged that at the meeting of the Camberwell Community Council planning meeting on 24 November 2010 Councillor Govier interrupted and accused a senior officer of the council of misrepresenting facts during the officer’s introduction of a planning report and this behaviour showed a lack of respect for the officer. The complaint further alleged that Councillor Govier’s actions could also be construed as bullying the officer. The complaint further alleged that Councillor Govier conducted himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute.

The Hearing Sub-Committee accepted that Councillor Govier believed that he was asking legitimate questions about an issue that was causing him concern. Councillor Govier also later recognised in a statement dated 20 November 2011, to the chair and members of the hearing sub-committee that his behaviour had been unacceptable and that he was prepared to apologise. However the sub-committee decided that there were aggravating factors in this case in that Councillor Govier’s words and conduct were seriously disrespectful towards the chair of the Camberwell Community Council committee meeting and the planning officer who presented the report to the meeting on 24 November 2010. Councillor Govier‘s behaviour occurred in front of the public and Councillor Govier still maintains that the chair was at fault. The sub-committee felt this lack of insight may well result in further breaches in the future.

The Hearing Sub-Committee found that the conduct of Councillor Govier did not amount to bullying.