AN independent councillor has been found guilty of 'completely unacceptable' abusive and bullying behaviour in an investigation costing taxpayers approximately £9,000.

Cllr Robert Brierley, independent ward member for Hindley Green, was found at a standards hearing held on Friday, March 18, to have breached Wigan Council’s code of conduct and brought his office and the council into disrepute after being accused of swearing at a public meeting.

Footage from the council meeting was played back to the panel to help them determine if Cllr Brierley swore at another member – an allegation he strongly denies.

Cllr Brierley failed to turn up to the hearing, which had already been rescheduled, but the panel decided there was sufficient information to proceed in his absence.

After hearing the evidence, including from an independent investigator tasked with determining whether Cllr Brierley swore, the panel decided that he did say the offensive words attributed to him.

The official majority decision was that Cllr Brierley was guilty of abusive and bullying behaviour and had breached paragraph 3.1(b) and in doing so breached paragraph five of the councillor code of conduct and brought the council into disrepute.

He will now have his Brighter Borough funding removed for the next two years and has been requested to give an apology to all members of the council for his behaviour.

This is the seventh time Cllr Brierley has been found guilty of breaching the council’s code of conduct in the last two years.

Cllr Stuart Keane, chair of the standards panel, said: "Cllr Brierley’s behaviour on this occasion and previous occasions has been completely unacceptable.

"As a councillor it is his duty to behave respectfully and professionally. Swearing in public meetings will not be tolerated.”

Investigating officer Linda Fisher said: “Once again we’re forced to waste taxpayers’ hard earned money on investigating complaints which are easily avoidable.

"Despite being the subject of numerous complaints, Cllr Brierley continues to behave inappropriately and disrespectfully.

"It is disappointing that Cllr Brierley did not apologise or engage fully in the investigation.

"He has continued to say that he holds his own tape recording of the meeting but has failed to produce it when requested to.”

The coalition government abolished the Standards Board for England as part of the Localism Act in 2011. As a result local authorities no longer have the power to suspend or disqualify councillors who bully, are rude, or disclose confidential information.