Accusations of racism at meeting to elect mayor

ACCUSATIONS of racism have marred a meeting to elect Torbay’s civic mayor and deputy.

- by GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter @[e-mail]

For the second year running there were angry exchanges at the meeting, which usually is little more than a formality.

Last year opposition councillors walked out in protest as the Conservative administration nominated one of its own members to be mayor when Liberal Democrat leader Swithin Long had already been promised the job.

This time the row was over the appointment as deputy mayor of Wellswood Conservative Councillor Hazel Foster, who was found to have bullied a council clerk and brought the council into disrepute in 2021.

An independent investigation revealed that during a heated hour-long debate over the membership of a housing committee, the council clerk became visibly distressed and left the meeting. Mrs Foster was told to carry out “acceptable behaviour training” after the incident.

Council leader David Thomas was also found to have breached the council's code of conduct at the same meeting,

Cllr Foster lost her St Marychurch council seat at the 2023 elections, but was elected to represent Wellswood in a by-election last year.