Councillor censured now for 'disrepute'

Councillor Mike Buckley

A ROW ensued among Saddleworth parish councillors over the presence of convicted councillor Mike Buckley at a meeting last night.

Four fellow councillors again refused to sit alongside, Cllr Buckley, who was found guilty of downloading indecent images of boys.

But Cllr Keith Lucas called on residents and councillors alike to "forgive."

A censure will also be handed to Cllr Buckley for "bringing the parish council into disrepute" by "assaulting" a photographer.

There was a majority vote in favour of the standard hearing sub-committee's recommendation to censure Cllr Buckley over the incident, which occurred at a council event in February.

They have agreed to write a statement to Cllr Buckley "expressing severe disapproval" of his actions.

A sub-committee was convened under the council's arrangement for dealing with a complaint from two residents over whether Cllr Buckley had breached the code of conduct.

Chairwoman of the meeting Cllr Pam Byrne said: "The sub-committee and investigating officer found a breach of the code with regard only to the allegation relating to the altercation outside Saddleworth Civic Hall.

"The committee concluded Cllr Buckley was acting in an official capacity at the council event on February 2, 2016.

"He grabbed a photographer by the arm and used foul and abusive language towards him.

"They considered that acting in this aggressive way, he failed to treat the photographer with respect and given that other people witnessed the incident, he had brought the parish council into disrepute."

Despite calls from the council, Cllr Buckley, of Dobcross, has refused to resign after he was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court in January for downloading indecent images.

His presence at the Civic Hall last night prompted the church minister and Cllr Katrina Roman to leave the meeting. She said: "I would like to offer my apologies but I will be leaving."

Cllrs Mavis Bingley, Nicola Kirkham and Steve Hewitt had already sent their apologies for absence.

Cllr Rob Knotts said: "Last meeting, I made my apologies.

"I still find it very offensive that the offender still be here, but nevertheless, I am bound by law."

In a joint statement, Cllrs Kirkham, Hewitt and Roman said: "We are deeply disturbed that Mike Buckley is now a regular attendee at council meetings.

"We thought as a council we had sought every possible way of removing him from any business.

"We must make it clear that we will not tolerate being in a room with a convicted child sex offender.

"We find it abhorrent that Cllr Buckley can still be included."

But Cllr Lucas said: "He has been disgraced. He knows that he has committed the crime but that is the end of it."

Cllr Buckley said: "The important thing is that the sub-committee confirmed I did not breach the code of conduct.

"I regard the photographer as a friend of mine - we just exchanged heated blows and I refute totally that I was operating in my capacity as a councillor.

"There are strong views on either side.

"I have a job to do on this council and participate in the activities that are going on."