'Kick your head in' councillor probe cost £2k

Dorothy Hayes MBE was the subject of the complaint from March 2024

An investigator who concluded a councillor swore at council staff and said she would kick them in the head was paid nearly £2,000 for his work.

Bracknell Forest councillor Dorothy Hayes MBE was the subject of a complaint by the borough council's chief executive after staff did not issue a formal grievance.

Susan Halliwell said Mrs Hayes' language in March was "quite appalling and thoroughly disrespectful" and a councillor panel found she had broken the authority's code of conduct last month.

The council hired investigator Richard Lingard and the panel ordered a written apology be sent to the two officers who were involved.

That panel also said Mrs Hayes would be given behavioural training and that the matter would be referred to her Conservative group "to consider whether any action needs to be taken".

The Conservative councillor, who represents Winkfield and Warfield East, claimed the conversation was "banter" and that the staff did not take offence but that she was sorry.

Mr Lingard's investigation, which cost the council £1,927, found the councillor approached two members of staff at the council's Time Square headquarters.

One of the witnesses said she told them they should "watch it or I'll kick your head in" and that she could lip read so knew what they said when she approached them.

"When we have a serious allegation made about a councillor's behaviour, we must ensure we investigate that complaint in a fair and transparent way," Sanjay Prashar, Bracknell Forest Council's monitoring officer, said.

"Given the nature of the complaint against Councillor Hayes, we used an independent investigator to ensure an impartial investigation was carried out.

"It is important for both sides that there is no conscious or unconscious bias in the reporting of facts in such cases, so it is entirely appropriate that we use a neutral third party.

"While this does come at a cost, it is important in ensuring a fair process and conclusion as well as upholding our expected values, behaviours and standards."