A community leader who came under fire for using racially offensive language has been publicly reprimanded.
During a heated meeting, in which two members of Inverkeithing Community Council resigned amid allegations of a culture of bullying and harassment within the body as a whole, chairman Chris Cunningham was given a formal warning.
Mr Cunningham used a politically incorrect term to describe a local shop during a meeting to discuss the town’s traditional Hat and Ribbon Race.
The long-serving community councillor has since issued a “hearfelt” written apology after being challenged by several fellow members over the comment, which he later admitted was “offensive” and “inappropriate”.
A special meeting was staged last night to discuss it and general issues of conduct at community council meetings.
It was decided to issue a warning to a second community councillor, Wayne Morris, who spoke out against Mr Cunningham in The Courier.
He was reprimanded for failing to follow proper procedure by not addressing the council first.
The two members who resigned voiced doubt that conduct would improve within the organisation, which is elected to represent and promote the interests of the town and its people.
One of the women, Juliet Sherriff, said: “I’m very disappointed in my peers because there have been many comments made which have not been reined in.
“People are not learning from their mistakes. For this to happen again and again shows there is a culture of disrespect.”
Referring to Mr Cunningham’s remark, vice-chairwoman Dawn Keillor, who chaired the meeting, said: “When you sign up to be a community councillor you sign up to abide by a code of conduct and that conduct has slipped here so a warning is appropriate.
“Chris has been asked to watch his language at meetings, both formal and informal, and we take note of his apology, both verbal and written.
“It is not appropriate for anyone to use the words that were used.”
A call by Mr Morris for a vote of no confidence in Mr Cunningham as chairman failed to find sufficient support.
Pledging to do everything in her power to ensure that inappropriate behaviour was stamped out within the community council, Ms Keillor added: “The code of conduct applies to all community councillors.
“There has to be much more respect within the meetings. Personal views must be left at the door.
“We are trying to wipe the slate clean as much as possible. There must be a much firmer rein on how people treat each other.”
Two members of the public attended the meeting to speak up on behalf of Mr Cunningham.
Eddie Spence, chairman of a club which he said works with members of ethnic minorities, claimed publicity around the incident had embarrassed a town which had no problem with racism.
He added: “In all the times that I have dealt with Chris, one of the things he has always made sure of is that everyone is included.”
Photo by David Wardle