'Rude' councillor urged to apologise to officers

Green Party councillor Patrick Kitterick said he had concerns about a housing project

A councillor breached Leicester City Council's code of conduct by being rude and aggressive to officers during a briefing on a housing scheme, a standards committee has ruled.

An investigation was launched into Green Party member Patrick Kitterick's behaviour following a complaint by Richard Sword, the authority's strategic director for city development.

Mr Sword said Kitterick had been abusive during a Microsoft Teams briefing, in November 2024, about the council's plans to buy a city centre block of flats to house people at risk of homelessness.

A standards committee report, published on Thursday, said Kitterick should apologise in writing to the council officers present in the meeting.

Kitterick, who represents the Castle ward in the city centre, told the BBC he would consider the committee's request for an apology.

He said he had used the briefing to express legitimate concerns to officers about the council's plan to buy the Yoho building in York Street.

Yoho House had been discussed at the meeting

The report said the standards committee concluded Kitterick had been "aggressive, angry, rude and offensive" during the briefing, which was also attended by the council's director of housing Chris Burgin and Matt Wallace, its director of estates.

Kitterick is said to have told Mr Burgin he was the worst director of housing the council had ever had - something the councillor has not denied.

The report said: "He [Kitterick] impugned the credibility and integrity of the officers by using language that questioned their motives, and the veracity of their briefing.

"His comments extended to personal criticism of officers, going beyond legitimate critique of the issues.

"His repeated interruptions, aggressive tone and personal criticism of the director of housing amounted to being offensive, insulting and humiliating.

"This conduct went well beyond what could reasonably be considered as robust criticism of ideas, policies and issues and it amounted to a misuse of power."

Kitterick was also accused of giving information about the Yoho building plan to a journalist after the briefing - despite being told it was confidential.

The councillor told the BBC: "I make no apologies for that. My duty and responsibility is to the people of Castle ward and the wider city and not to Leicester City Council."

He added: "There was no swearing and no improper language. I was raising issues with three of the council's senior, highly-paid and powerful officers."

He said he had concerns about the size of the rooms in Yoho building as well as fire safety in the building.

"I'll continue to raise those concerns," he added.

Chair of the standards committee Su Barton said: "It's clear that councillor Kitterick did not conduct himself in the manner we expect of our elected members, and the sanctions set out by the standards committee include requiring him to make a formal apology to those affected.

"By making the findings public, the committee aims to show that complaints will be investigated, disrespectful language and bullying behaviour will not be tolerated, and action will be taken where necessary."