THE details of an incident at Spennymoor Town Council during which a councillor shouted and swore at fellow members and staff can now be revealed.

The Northern Echo has previously reported that police were called to Spennymoor Town Hall following a melee on February 11 - referred to simply as the ‘incident’ in council papers.

Mayor Pat Lawton subsequently made complaints on behalf of the town council to Durham County Council’s standards committee about the conduct of Councillors Billy McAloon and Colin Nelson.

Following an investigation, summaries of the complaints now show the incident unfolded when town clerk Pauline Waterson, who has been on the sick with stress since November, visited the town hall.

Both men were accused of letting her into the office and later had their access passes withdrawn.

The complaint about Cllr McAloon alleged he witnessed the shredding of a town council credit card, was prepared to verify the contents of Mrs Waterson’s bag were her personal belongings despite it containing council items and used his phone to film an officer sorting through the items after being asked to stop.

Cllr McAloon said he believed the items were all Mrs Waterson’s and said he filmed the contents because he felt it wrong for another member of staff to interfere with her belongings. He admitted being the one who let Mrs Waterson in, saying he knew no reason not to.

It was also said he "threatened and aggressively shouted and swore personal and work-related abuse at other councillors and members of staff".

He admitted shouting and swearing claiming it was "in the context of a heated debate in the majority group room".

It was also alleged that Cllr McAloon asked friends to post abuse on social media directed at leader Ian Geldard.

Governance solicitor Clare Burrows said Cllr McAloon’s behaviour "did cross the line, particularly those comments aimed at the personal circumstances of others" and he was asked to apologise.

She found Cllr Nelson had attempted to diffuse the situation.

Cllr McAloon also made a complaint about the Mayor, claiming she was disrespectful at a meeting on February 23 and said evidence on social media suggested she had disclosed confidential information.

Mrs Burrows found no evidence that either Cllr Lawton or Cllr McAloon had fuelled comments on social media.

The County Council found no breaches of the town council’s code of conduct and concluded no further action was necessary.

Colette Longbottom, head of legal and democratic services, said: “One of the councillors was asked to send a letter of apology and has done so.

“We will be providing training to the town council on standards issues in the near future.”