Racism, Bullying and Social Media Disputes Among Historical Complaints Against Havering Councillors

22nd October 202622nd October 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments min read

Complaints alleging racism, bullying, inappropriate social media activity and misconduct at council meetings were among 16 formal complaints recorded against Havering councillors between December 2022 and March 2024, according to a report presented to Havering Council’s Governance Committee in June 2024.

The anonymised records, which cover the period from 13 December 2022 to 31 March 2024, involved numerous councillors and included complaints submitted by both residents and fellow elected members.

The complaints covered a range of issues, from disagreements over social media posts and alleged inappropriate behaviour to concerns about how councillors communicated with residents and colleagues.

The records show that the council dealt with the complaints in different ways, depending on the circumstances and the outcome of its assessment.

It is important to note that a complaint being made does not mean that the allegations were proven.

Social media disputes featured prominently

Social media activity accounted for eight of the 16 complaints, according to reporting on the council’s records.

The allegations included claims of bullying, spreading rumours and making potentially misleading statements online.

In one case, a complaint concerning alleged bullying resulted in an apology. In another, a councillor was reminded of guidance relating to social media use.

The records demonstrate the challenges councils face when disputes between elected representatives move from political debate into personal exchanges online.

Allegations concerning council meetings

A separate complaint was submitted in March 2023 by eight councillors concerning a colleague’s alleged conduct during a council meeting.

The complaint included an allegation that the councillor had incited anti-social behaviour.

The matter was not referred to an assessment panel at the initial stage. The council’s Monitoring Officer was instead expected to discuss the conduct with the councillor.

The outcome illustrates that complaints can be dealt with through different procedures and that not every allegation proceeds to a formal hearing.

Racism allegation resulted in an apology

The report also recorded a complaint concerning alleged racism during a licensing committee matter in May 2023.

Three councillors brought the complaint, which was resolved informally following an apology, according to the published records.

The available information does not establish that the apology amounted to a formal finding that the councillor had breached the Code of Conduct.

Complaint over allegations of blackmail and bribery

In June 2023, a resident complained about allegations of blackmail and bribery made on social media.

The council’s record states that a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct was upheld at the initial assessment stage, and that the councillor accepted the need to apologise.

The complaint concerned allegations made online. The record should not be interpreted as establishing that blackmail or bribery had taken place.

Residents also raised concerns about communication

Other complaints concerned councillors’ responses to residents and their involvement in local matters.

One complaint related to an alleged failure to respond to correspondence, alongside concerns about a councillor’s support for the Covid vaccine.

Another concerned support for a resident involved in a planning dispute. That complaint was closed because it had been submitted outside the permitted time limit and no explanation was provided for allowing it to proceed.

These cases highlight the range of issues that can lead residents to raise concerns about their elected representatives, although not every disagreement necessarily amounts to a breach of the Code of Conduct.

Six complaints against one councillor

Reporting on the council’s records stated that one anonymised councillor, referred to as Cllr A, was the subject of six complaints during the period.

The council’s published table anonymised the individuals involved, and the information available does not provide a basis for identifying them.

The records also indicated that more than 20 additional queries about councillor behaviour had been raised with the Monitoring Officer. These were separate from the 16 formal complaints and included concerns about alleged inappropriate language directed at council employees.

How were the complaints handled?

The council’s approach varied according to the nature of each complaint and its assessment.

Some matters resulted in apologies or informal resolution, while others were not referred for further assessment. Reporting at the time stated that only one complaint was referred to an assessment panel.

The figures provide a snapshot of complaints recorded during the period, rather than a finding that the councillors concerned had committed misconduct.

The full anonymised report (pages 45–50) is available in Havering Council’s published Governance Committee documents.

For residents, the central question is how effectively complaints are assessed, whether appropriate action is taken when the Code of Conduct has been breached, and how transparently the council explains the outcomes while respecting the confidentiality of those involved.

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