Bridgend Town Councillor Disqualified for Bullying and Harassment
Councillor Freya Bletsoe has been disqualified from Bridgend Town Council following a tribunal’s findings of multiple breaches of the council’s Code of Conduct, including bullying, harassment, and making vexatious complaints.
The Adjudication Panel for Wales convened on February 6, 2025, to deliberate on allegations against Cllr. Bletsoe. The tribunal identified ten breaches of the Code of Conduct, primarily related to her interactions with the town council’s clerk, Mrs. Leanne Edwards. The incidents spanned from 2021 to 2022 and included disrespectful communications, unwarranted complaints, and attempts to undermine Mrs. Edwards in public meetings.
In one notable incident from June 2022, during a Regeneration Committee meeting, Cllr. Bletsoe, who represents the Oldcastle Ward, challenged the clerk’s advice, becoming irate and demanding immediate information. The tribunal found this behavior to be insulting, intimidating, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the clerk in a public forum.
The tribunal’s decision emphasized that Cllr. Bletsoe’s actions constituted systematic harassment, causing significant distress to Mrs. Edwards. Aggravating factors included her experience as a councillor, lack of remorse, and failure to heed previous advice regarding similar conduct.
As a result, the tribunal unanimously concluded that Cllr. Bletsoe should be disqualified from being or becoming a member of Bridgend Town Council for a period of 21 months. This decision does not affect her role as a councillor within Bridgend County Borough Council, as there was no evidence suggesting misconduct in that capacity.
Cllr. Bletsoe retains the right to seek permission from the High Court to appeal the decision.
This case underscores the importance of maintaining professional conduct within local government and the serious consequences of breaching codes of conduct designed to uphold integrity and respect among council members and staff.
The full decision is available here: https://adjudicationpanel.gov.wales/sites/adjudicationpanel/files/2025-02/apw-decision-report-cllr-freya-bletsoe.pdf