Stirling councillor suspended for five months

Stirling councillor Danny Gibson has been suspended for five months for his behaviour towards staff.

The Labour councillor was found to have breached the Councillors' Code of Conduct by the Standards Commission.

A panel concluded he behaved disrespectfully towards council staff, and bullied a senior council officer.

Gibson won't be able to take part in any council business for five months.

Chair of the panel Ashleigh Dunn said: "In this case, the panel found that Cllr Gibson’s conduct, towards council officers and others, was entirely inappropriate and unacceptable.

“The panel considered that councillors should be aware of the inherent influence their role brings and should note that as elected politicians, they are in a position of power over council employees. The panel therefore emphasised the importance of the requirement for councillors to behave respectfully towards council officers, in order for officers to be able to undertake their tasks without being belittled, or subjected to bullying, unwarranted pressure or interference.”

“The Standards Commission considers that such serious breaches of the Code have the potential to interfere with the effective operation of the council, to undermine the important relationship between council officers and elected members, and to bring the council into disrepute – as well as potentially exposing it to successful legal challenge. As such, the panel concluded that a five-month suspension was the appropriate sanction in the circumstances."