Former Dacorum Borough Council leader ‘sexually harassed’ council colleague, report concludes

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The former leader of Dacorum Borough Council “sexually harassed” a councillor who “didn’t feel comfortable being left alone in a room” with him, an independent report commissioned by the council concluded.

But, in a hearing held behind closed doors earlier this month, the council’s standards committee rejected the findings of the report into Cllr Ron Tindall’s alleged behaviour. Cllr Tindall denies all the allegations.

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On Wednesday (25 September), eight female Lib Dem councillors in Dacorum accused current leader Cllr Adrian England of “failing to deal with allegations of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment”.

They have resigned the party whip, called for the Liberal Democrats to investigate its Dacorum council group, and asked “for a review of safeguarding of women in local politics”.

Councillor Ron Tindall (LD). Credit: Ron TindallCouncillor Ron Tindall (LD). Credit: Ron Tindall
Councillor Ron Tindall (LD). Credit: Ron Tindall

Two councillors formally lodged anonymous complaints against Cllr Tindall, 80, in April 2024, shortly before he was replaced as leader by Cllr England.

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An independent report, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, was commissioned to investigate allegations that Cllr Tindall had “made various misogynistic remarks which were completely inappropriate and disrespectful to women”.

It was carried out by a consultant solicitor with Anthony Collins Solicitors.

The investigator considered six incidents reported by the two councillors, all of which occurred while Cllr Tindall was leader of the council.

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The eight councillors who resigned the Lib Dem whip. Credit: Christopher Day/LDRS. Permission for use for LDRS partners.The eight councillors who resigned the Lib Dem whip. Credit: Christopher Day/LDRS. Permission for use for LDRS partners.
The eight councillors who resigned the Lib Dem whip. Credit: Christopher Day/LDRS. Permission for use for LDRS partners.

They concluded, on the balance of probabilities, he had breached four paragraphs of the council’s code of conduct.

The report read: “There was unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature on repeated occasions.

“The evidence I heard created an uncomfortable and intimidating environment for the complainant to such an extent that they didn’t feel comfortable being left alone in a room with Cllr Tindall.”

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The investigator found Cllr Tindall’s alleged actions “constituted sexual harassment” and “had the potential to bring the council into disrepute”. They also wrote that he “failed to treat the complainants with respect” and “failed to promote equalities”.

According to the investigator, both complainants were “very concerned about the impact of [Cllr Tindall’s] comments, especially on younger women”.

The alleged comments and behaviour “clearly had a hurtful and demeaning impact on the complainants,” the investigator added.

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Cllr Tindall told the investigator “I just wouldn’t dream of doing that sort of thing”, and added he “had never used sexual connotations with colleagues”.

Cllr Tindall said “he did not regard his remarks as having sexual connotations” and said they were not “in any way misogynistic”. He told the investigator he was “proud of the number of female councillors in the [Lib Dem] group” and said his alleged comments “which might have been construed [sic] were jokes”.

The council’s standards committee dismissed the complaints from both councillors.

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They concluded one complaint was “insufficiently particularised or evidenced for either Cllr Tindall fairly to be able to respond to the complaint, or the committee to adjudicate as to whether what has been alleged is a breach of the code [of conduct]”.

On the other complaint, committee members were “not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the alleged factual allegations occurred”. Referring to one of the six alleged incidents, the committee concluded it was “not satisfied that the facts amount to a breach of the code of conduct”.

A council spokesperson said the independent report “only formed part of the evidence that the committee received”.

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The standards committee was made up of three Liberal Democrat councillors and one Conservative councillor. Three of them were male and one was female.

Both complainants watched proceedings from separate rooms in the council’s offices.

A spokesperson for the eight councillors who resigned the whip earlier this week said: “The mechanisms in local government do not provide a fair process for elected members to speak up against sexual harassment.

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“We are calling time on sexual harassment and bullying in local government.”

Cllr Tindall told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the investigator had “very professionally” taken on board his denials, but suggested they had “failed to recognise the political situation from which these complainants were emerging”.

In a statement to the Times last week, Cllr Tindall said: “As far as I’m concerned, the whole matter about the malicious allegations against me was dealt with by the standards committee and there was no case to answer and neither complaint was upheld.

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“What disappoints me most about this whole business is the fact that these individuals, having been elected by the Liberal Democrat voters, chose to follow personal ambitions and not support party objectives. The resignations … showed the true nature of the intentions of the individuals concerned and their complaints can be dealt with in the appropriate way.”

Cllr Adrian England, leader of the council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service after last week’s council meeting: “Quite a lot has happened so I think we need to just have a think about what may have caused people to expend quite a bit of procedural venom.

“I think I set out in the meeting that there is a different perspective and there are documents to back it up.”

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A Dacorum Borough Council spokesperson said: “The council has examined the process undertaken by the independent investigator and the standards committee and we are satisfied that all processes and procedures were followed correctly.

“We fully understand that the complainants are disappointed with the result fo that process and have advised them on the next steps available to them.”

A Dacorum Liberal Democrats spokesperson said Cllr Tindall remains suspended from their group “pending an internal investigation”.

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A Liberal Democrats spokesperson said: “As per our party processes this is being investigated at a regional level.”

Victoria Collins, Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, said: “It is right that the local and regional party are investigating and dealing with this council matter.

“My priority is to focus on serving Harpenden and Berkhamsted residents and campaign on the issues local people are raising, including local health services, and the continuing cost of living crisis.”

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