A councillor at Forest of Dean District Council has been banned from all committees for three years following sustained bullying of planning officers. Philip Burford, former leader of the Independent group and chairman of the planning committee, was formally censured after an extensive investigation found evidence of repeated mistreatment.
The council received 496 pages of testimony from 11 witnesses revealing three serious complaints against Burford, who represents Hartpury and Redmarley. Between 2015 and 2020, during his initial term as planning committee chairman, Burford subjected officers to relentless criticism. This worsened upon his reappointment in May 2022 until the elections in May 2023.
The standards panel report detailed how Burford frequently undermined the planning team, disparaged complainants, and overstepped his authority. His insistence that he “knew best” created a toxic environment, leading officers to dread attending planning meetings. In addition, Burford was found to have breached the code of conduct by failing to declare interests and attempting to influence officers improperly in enforcement cases.
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Initially, the panel recommended a formal censure and barring him from chairmanship roles. However, Councillor Julia Gooch successfully amended this to include a three-year ban from all committees, outside bodies, and working groups to better protect staff. Gooch emphasized the need to create a safe, impartial workplace free from bullying.
Former council leader Tim Gwilliam called the conduct “out and out bullying,” highlighting the seriousness of officers’ experiences, including heavily redacted reports shielding victims from further harm. Other councillors expressed concern about Burford’s continued role despite the findings.
During the meeting, several questioned whether training could address the issue, but the consensus was that the behavior was inherent, raising doubts about Burford’s suitability to serve. Chief Executive Nigel Brinn clarified the council lacked the power to suspend or disqualify the councillor or withhold allowances.
The sanctions passed with an overwhelming majority—30 votes in favor, two abstentions, and one opposition. Burford must now abide by the ban and was issued a formal censure.
In response, Burford stated he had always acted fairly and to the best of his ability, expressing disappointment that no concerns were raised previously about his conduct.