COUNCILLOR Ian Woodall has referred himself to Redditch Borough Council’s Standards Process after an incident at the extraordinary meeting last week where he called a member of the public a ‘Nazi’.
The meeting was called to discuss whether the upcoming local council elections in May should be postponed due to the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
A decision is due to take place this summer that would see all district councils and the county council abolished with a vote to establish the new authority scheduled to be held in May 2027.
Were that to be the case, the newly-elected councillors would only serve a term of 18 months before the borough and district councils were abolished.
The proposal caused uproar in the town, and led to the public staging a protest outside the community centre.
The meeting was raucous, with members of the public gallery heckling councillors.
Coun Woodall, who represents Headless Cross and Oakenshaw, called a member of the public gallery a ‘Nazi’ after being called a ‘scumbag’.
Police were called and Coun Woodall left the meeting.
He has since apologised, saying his reaction was an error of judgement and fell short of the standard expected of him.
Coun Ian Woodall’s apology in full
“I would like to apologise once again for my conduct at last week’s extraordinary Council Meeting and for the language I used towards a member of the public. My reaction was an error of judgement and fell short of the standards expected of me as a councillor.
“I am sorry to the individual concerned and to everyone present.
“I have referred myself to Redditch Borough Councils Standards Process. That investigation is ongoing. I will abide by it’s findings and recommendations.”
