Councillor ‘Shocked’ By Revelations at Spelthorne Council

Published on: 25 Feb, 2025
Updated on: 26 Feb, 2025

Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, Ashford East councillor Joanne Sexton, at the council building in Knowle Green, Staines

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

Councillors have said that they felt “pressured” to say a council leader had disrespected staff. A full, independent investigation has now been launched into the process and the outcome of the independent standards meeting.

Joanne Sexton, leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, was found to have disrespected a member of staff but cleared of bullying by an independent panel on October 17, 2024.

The Independent Spelthorne Group member for Ashford East later apologised to the officer in December 2024- it has still has not been confirmed whether this has been accepted.

Cllr Tony Burrell

But the plot has thickened as councillors have now revealed they were potentially pushed to say Cllr Sexton was guilty. “I could not in all conscience allow this to happen,” Cllr Tony Burrell said at a Standards Meeting February 12.

“The investigating officer informed me three times that if I did not find Cllr Sexton guilty, the three officers involved were likely to lose their jobs at the council.”

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after the revelation, Cllr Sexton said: “I was shocked at the revelations. The matter is now subject to an investigation and further details will follow.”

Cllr Burrell said he had “sleepless nights” after the meeting and “deeply regrets what [he] had allowed to happen that day.” The Labour member for Staines South said he was “really not happy” with the way Cllr Sexton’s misconduct meeting was carried out and that, “I believed then, and still believe now, Cllr Sexton is totally innocent.”

Cllr Sandra Dunn

Also part of the independent panel, Cllr Sandra Dunn (Lib Dem, Halliford and Sunbury West) said she felt “pressurised into making a decision that night” and would have preferred to sleep on it.

Cllr Dunn added she “had nothing else to go on” but the report in front of her as councillors did not have the “opportunity” to bring a witness to the committee based on the speed the meeting was assembled.

After hearing from the independent investigator and Cllr Sexton at the conduct meeting on October 17, 2024, the committee decided to uphold the complaint relating to her failure to treat a local authority employee with respect – and that her behaviour breached the code of conduct. The bullying complaint was not upheld.

Speaking to the LDRS after the ruling in 2024, Cllr Sexton said: “Residents will know that I am committed and passionate about the future of Spelthorne and want the best for our borough. I am saddened that one of the councils’ officers has interpreted my enthusiasm as a lack of respect, which was certainly never my intention.”

Cllr Daniel Geraci

Cllr Daniel Geraci (Ind, Riverside and Laleham) said it was “shocking” to be told “investigations have not been done fairly and been pushed in a certain direction”.

He demanded to know who told the councillors that officers could be fired depending on the outcome of the meeting as this was “unacceptable and not true”.

Cllr Burrell said it was the investigating officer at the time who told him on three occasions the staff would lose their jobs while he was on the panel.

Some members who were present at the conduct hearing said they do not recall an officer informing them of the risk of officers losing their jobs, nor seeing it in the reports – but they did not doubt Cllr Burrell for saying so.

Officers and members accepted that an independent review of the process needs to be undertaken to establish the facts of the case and ensure full transparency.