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Saltash mayor reported after 'racist' remarks | Saltash mayor reported after 'racist' remarks |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A town mayor has been censured after repeating what has been described as a "racist" remark. | A town mayor has been censured after repeating what has been described as a "racist" remark. |
A complaint regarding the conduct of Saltash Mayor Jean Dent was made by a fellow town councillor. | A complaint regarding the conduct of Saltash Mayor Jean Dent was made by a fellow town councillor. |
Councillor Averil Pinckney said the remark made before a meeting at Saltash Town Hall was "discriminatory, terrible and hurtful". | Councillor Averil Pinckney said the remark made before a meeting at Saltash Town Hall was "discriminatory, terrible and hurtful". |
Mrs Dent said the comment was made in a "private conversation" and Ms Pinckney "took it out of context". | Mrs Dent said the comment was made in a "private conversation" and Ms Pinckney "took it out of context". |
More stories from Cornwall | |
Ms Pinckney insisted it was of a "racist nature" and made a formal complaint to the standards department at County Hall in Truro. | Ms Pinckney insisted it was of a "racist nature" and made a formal complaint to the standards department at County Hall in Truro. |
The incident was investigated by a monitoring officer who ruled that the place and timing of the conversation were "inappropriate". | The incident was investigated by a monitoring officer who ruled that the place and timing of the conversation were "inappropriate". |
The report by Cornwall Council said the comment was made "in a public building within earshot of others" and "there were no grounds for the use of the comment". | The report by Cornwall Council said the comment was made "in a public building within earshot of others" and "there were no grounds for the use of the comment". |
'Not my opinion' | 'Not my opinion' |
Mrs Dent was found to have breached the Code of Conduct for Saltash Town Council and was told to apologise to Ms Pinckney and ordered to attend diversity training. | Mrs Dent was found to have breached the Code of Conduct for Saltash Town Council and was told to apologise to Ms Pinckney and ordered to attend diversity training. |
The mayor rejects the accusations saying she had "overheard the phrase spoken by an elderly gentleman and condemned it". | The mayor rejects the accusations saying she had "overheard the phrase spoken by an elderly gentleman and condemned it". |
She added: "I was talking to a colleague about the way that language has changed over the years, what was deemed acceptable in years gone by, no longer is. This was a private conversation in which I was appalled at the remark and it was certainly not my opinion." | She added: "I was talking to a colleague about the way that language has changed over the years, what was deemed acceptable in years gone by, no longer is. This was a private conversation in which I was appalled at the remark and it was certainly not my opinion." |
She said she has written to Ms Pinckney to apologise twice and will be completing the diversity training as soon as she can. | She said she has written to Ms Pinckney to apologise twice and will be completing the diversity training as soon as she can. |
Fellow Saltash Town Councillor John Brady has written to Mrs Dent asking for her to resign over the incident. | Fellow Saltash Town Councillor John Brady has written to Mrs Dent asking for her to resign over the incident. |
Mrs Dent said she will not be resigning as mayor as she "still has work to do for the council and the people of Saltash". | Mrs Dent said she will not be resigning as mayor as she "still has work to do for the council and the people of Saltash". |
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