A veteran Highland councillor who admitted swearing at a constituent has been reprimanded – but allowed to keep his job.
Independent Culloden and Ardersier member Roddy Balfour swore at Croy neighbour George Byers and called him stupid in a row over felling trees.
Mr Byers, 67, maintained that the tall and ageing trees were a threat to his home and called in contractors to do the job on a Sunday in March, 2014.
Mr Balfour had visited the house, at Carrickholm, Croy, in response to a call from a concerned constituent amid fears for passers-by on the nearby B9006.
The commissioner for ethical standards subsequently concluded that Mr Balfour breached two rules of the members’ code of conduct with his use of language in front of Mr Byers’s family and by photographing Mr Byers without permission.
The matter was then referred to the Standards Commission. A three-member panel, meeting yesterday in Inverness, chose not to punish the councillor beyond censure.
Mr Balfour, 75, said he “acted under extreme provocation” after many years of differences with Mr Byers and yesterday accused him of “criminal negligence” for felling the Scots pine, Douglas fir and oak trees in defiance of the order.
The councillor explained that his wife had died in recent years and that he had probably returned to council duties too soon after treatment for a heart problem. He said he “just lost it,” adding he was “only human”.
Mr Balfour told the panel: “Perhaps I shouldn’t have used that word, but I had to say something.”
Asked by Standards Commission panellist Kevin Dunion if he would use such language about a colleague in the council chamber, Mr Balfour said he would not.
Mr Byers, who did not give evidence, described the panel’s verdict as “soft”.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Balfour told the Press and Journal: “I’ve done nothing illegal. I thought a censure was a bit unfair, but that’s the way it works. I’ve been judged on the grounds of political correctness, not on law.
“If you’re in public office, I suppose you’ve got to take the rough and tumble.”
He added: “I’m not apologising.”
Mr Byers said: “At least he’s been found guilty. An apology wouldn’t make any difference. This is a situation where nobody wins and it’s patehtic that we’re actually here.”
The panel’s other options were to clear Mr Balfour, to suspend him for up to a year or to disqualify him for up to five years.
