A LIPHOOK parish councillor is to be ‘trained’ after allegations he didn’t behave in the proper fashion were upheld.

Bramshott and Liphook parish councillor Don Jerrard was censured by investigating officers from East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) after complaints about his behaviour towards fellow parish councillors and council officers, and during meetings, were upheld.

In the EHDC report it said his behaviour included “bullying, lack of openness and transparency, failing to remain objective, failing to engage in a respectful and courteous manner, or listening to the interests of all parties, failing to work together with council officers and conducting himself in an unacceptable manner.”

The investigation report was reviewed by Liphook parish councillors at their meeting on December 18 in the Millennium Centre, and its conclusions were agreed to as there wasn’t any other choice, said council chairman Michael Croucher.

Cllr Croucher said: “EHDC recommended that all councillors should undergo training to improve their skill set, and to help them understand the role of a councillor and that training has been arranged.

“It’s not in our power to remove a councillor, and the only reasons a councillor can be removed is if they become bankrupt, or sent to prison, or found guilty of a criminal act.

“Other than that they can resign if they wish, but in this case that hasn’t happened.

“In this case some members of the public wanted, or hoped for, an outcome along those lines, and different to the one that’s been put in place.

“But, as has been mentioned, it’s not within the power of the council to remove a councillor.”

The turmoil came to a head in 2017. A district council hearing into the complaints against Cllr Jerrard had to be postponed three times.

In the summer of 2018 the then council chairman Jane Ives resigned over the issue and related matters.

She said: “I’m concerned about the seeming lack of transparency and responsibility regarding the recent EHDC code of conduct decision.

“There is a very human cost to what happened in this council last year. I felt that there was no acknowledgement of the hurt and distress caused to at least five people. A simple acceptance of the facts would have been welcome and an acknowledgement, at the very least.”