Deputy Mayor gives profuse apologies over row with parking warden that breached Councillor Code of Conduct

Brent's Deputy Mayor, Cllr Diana Collymore, has offered apologies to Brent Council, and a face to face apology to a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) more commonly known as a parking warden, following an argument over a parking infringement in London Road, Wembley. She was issued with a PCN (Penalty Contravention Notice).

An investigation using video and written evidence found that Cllr Collymore had been in breach of several provisions of the Councillor Code of Conduct.   The councillor who holds a Blue Badge  had not realised there were parking restrictions that applied in that area, even to a Blude Badge holder, as there is a No Loading restriction. However, the double yellow lines were barely visible. I understand the lines have been repainted since the incident.

Cllr Collymore, who before becoming a councillor was a local community activist, apparently lost her cool in the heated outburst.

9. 9. The Complainant alleged Councillor Collymore:after asking why a ticket had been issued, did not permit the CEO the opportunity to explain why the ticket had been issued,

       stated “the officer got married to a woman in order to regularise his [stay] in the UK”. Implying that the officer got his immigration document through an illegal means.

       repeatedly stated she did not require a response from him.

       informed the CEO that he “does not know how to carry out his duties, that she will speak to someone higher in the council and, that she will report him to the immigration services.”

       repeatedly stated she is a councillor and will report the CEO to council officers.

 The complaint was backed up by video evidence which has been sent to Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council.

In considering sanctions for the breach Brent Council's Monitoring officer  took into account Cllr Collymore's actions to remedy the breach, namely her written apology to the Council and her personal apology to the CEO. The following sanctions were imposed:

Censure or reprimand by way of a report for information to the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee, which has responsibility for oversight of Member standards issues, with a summary of this decision. 

It was also suggested that Councillor Collymore be given the information again about appropriate use of her blue badge.

Request that Councillor Collymore undertakes refresher Code of Conduct training and refresher equalities training.

Providing a copy of the transcript of the headcam recording to the Leader of the Labour Group so the group can consider its relevance to council positions.

The last point is significant because Cllr Collymore apart from being Deputy Mayor also has positions on the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Corporate Parenting Committee, Regulatory Sub-Committee and the Service User Consultative Forum for Pensioners.

The Labour Group in considering removal from any of the positions will presumably take into account the findings in the Monitoring Officer's Report and the sanctions already imposed, as well as any advice from the London Region of the Labour Party.

Cllr Collymore, along with many other councillors, was not present at last night's Full Council Meeting. A request for a statement from the Mayor by Liberal Democrats was refused.

The full report can be read HERE