Auditors tell council to address abusive behaviour in meetings for second year in row

Grant Thornton issued the statutory recommendation alongside three key recommendations in 2023/24 after finding significant weakness in arrangements for standards, behaviour and decision-making at the council.

The statutory recommendation called on the council to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any swearing, lack of respect for other people attending meetings, or other abusive behaviour towards other members or officers in meetings.

"This should be done by making full use of the procedural rules set out in the Council’s constitution by: Immediately adjourning the meeting; moving a motion that the member concerned be not heard; or moving a motion that the member concerned should leave the meeting," it added.

It also recommended the council commission an expert to investigate the underlying causes of member behaviours in order to assist in the creation of an action plan.

In a value for money assessment for 2024/25 published on 8 December, auditors said the council is currently in the process of procuring an expert to assist with analysing and addressing causes of bad behaviour.

It also noted that amendments to the constitution concerning meetings and motions had been approved in May 2025, a member conduct review had been commenced, and new members had been appointed to the Governance Committee.

A governance action plan is also in place, according to the report.

Commenting on the changes, the auditors said: "Our prior year statutory recommendation remains in place, but we recognise that progress is being made. Root causes of issues and complaints, and the ability of Group Leaders to take responsibility for their groups, now need to be addressed."

Auditors meanwhile retained a key recommendation on councillor access to information after finding an instance in which members had breached confidentiality.

The 2023/24 recommendation reported that "members do not always understand which aspects of council business they do or do not have access to by law".

Writing in this year's update, auditors noted an instance in which members used council information to stage a protest against the council and a project by the developer Vistry.

"This was a breach of confidentiality," it noted.

The second retained key recommendation stated that the council should review its decision-making arrangements at the Executive Committee and Full Council levels.

It said the council should stick to decisions once they are made in order to ensure projects can proceed as required, referencing a £500k write-off which came after abandoning a cinema project.

Commenting on progress against this recommendation, auditors acknowledged the findings of an LGA Peer Review, which said that decision-making arrangements had improved, given the lack of significant last-minute changes to recommendations in meetings.

"However, they also reported that there were still concerns around one meeting not being as easy as expected; and the way officer advice is given and challenged on the planning committee," auditors added.

Grant Thornton meanwhile closed its third key recommendation, which concerned declarations of interest and investigations.

It said a ‘declarations of interest audit’ has now taken place, and the report and recommendations were received in October 2025, in line with the recommendation issued last year.

Teignbridge District Council has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey