Decision

 
Decision
Notice
 
Case
Reference 142-24, Councillor Colin Pease
 
FINDING OF A
BREACH OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS
 
Hearing of
the Member Standards Hearing Committee, 6 November
2025
 
Members:
Councillor
Matthew Snedker (Chair)
Councillor James
McGill
Councillor Alan
Marshall
 
Investigating
Officer:
Ellie Dewar,
Independent Investigator
 
Summary
 
The Member
Standards Hearing Committee considered the case following a
complaint from a member of the public (who has requested to remain
anonymous – referred to as MOP1) made on 14 May
2024.
 
The complaint
arose from a meeting of Middleton St George Parish Council held on
13 May 2024 and an exchange of words between Cllr Colin Pease and
Middleton St George Parish Cllr David Darling that led to a
physical altercation.
 
Darlington
Borough Council’s Monitoring Officer carried out an
assessment of the complaint and on 4 June 2024 appointed the
Investigating Officer to carry out an
investigation.
 
The complaint
was heard by the Member Standards Hearing Committee on 6 November
2025 who made a finding of a breach of the Code of
Conduct.
 
The
Complaint
 
The complaint
that was considered was that Cllr Darling questioned Cllr Pease on
his seemingly negative attitude and approach to matters concerning
the Ward, following which Cllr Pease became verbally aggressive,
leaning across the table and pointing his finger at Cllr Darling,
saying, "why are you sticking your nose in", followed by '"you can
carry on running your own little fiefdom without me" and finally
"I'm not listening to that prat" before heading for the door. At
this point the altercation between them became physical, and MOP1
stated that they witnessed at least two punches being thrown at
Cllr Darling's face by Cllr Pease.
 
Relevant
Sections of the Code of Conduct
 
1.Respect
 
As a
councillor:
 
1.1 
I treat other councillors and members of the public
with respect.

 
1.2 I treat
local authority employees, employees and representatives of
partner
organisations
and those volunteering for the local authority with respect
and
respect the role
they play.
 
2. Bullying,
harassment and discrimination
 
As a
councillor:
 
2.1 I do not
bully any person.
 
2.2 I do not
harass any person.
 
2.3 I promote
equalities and do not discriminate unlawfully against any
person.
 
5.
Disrepute
 
As a
councillor:
 
5.1 I do not
bring my role or local authority into disrepute.
 
Findings of
Fact
At the start of
the Parish Council meeting, the Chair of the Parish Council invited
Cllr
Pease to speak
during the Ward Councillors report, which is a standard item on
the
agenda of the
Parish Council meetings. The Member Standards Hearing Committee
were able to listen to an audio recording of the
meeting.
 
Cllr Darling
read a prepared list of questions to Cllr Pease. The conversation
became
heated between
Cllr Darling and Cllr Pease, with Cllr Darling repeatedly asking
questions of Cllr Pease in a raised voice and provoking manner
without giving him time to answer.
 
Cllr Pease stood
up and pointed his finger and called Cllr Darling a
“prat” before going towards the door to exit the
room.
 
Cllr Darling
quickly stood up, removed his glasses and shut the door meaning
that Cllr Pease could not leave.
 
Both parties
were then engaged in a physical altercation. Cllr Pease had
scratches and blood on his face and arm area, and his glasses were
broken during the incident. Cllr Darling had a slightly red face
and a bruised finger. Members of the meeting can be heard on the
audio recording asking Cllr Darling to “stop”
repeatedly. Members of the meeting assisted in separating both
parties, and they left separately.
 
 
 
Consideration
of the Code of Conduct
 
There were two
separate elements to the complaint against Cllr Pease that could
have given rise to a breach: his reaction to the questions i.e. the
finger pointing and use of the word “prat” and his
involvement in the physical altercation with Cllr
Darling.
 
By Cllr
Pease’s own admission, the manner of his response to Cllr
Darling’s questions
was
disrespectful. We agreed with his submission however that this
reaction came under extreme provocation. Nevertheless, the
paragraph of the Code concerning respect was technically breached
by this behaviour, but we take the view that this breach was at the
lowest end of the scale.
 
With regard to
the physical altercation, we do not
find Cllr Pease at fault for this and do not believe that the
paragraphs relating to respect, bullying or disrepute have been
breached by him in this regard. We have concluded that Cllr Darling
was the aggressor who instigated this action and that Cllr Pease
acted in self-defence.
 
Decision
 
We find that
Cllr Colin Pease technically breached paragraph 1 of the Code of
Conduct for Members with regard to
respect. There is no finding of breach however in relation to
bullying or disrepute. By way of sanction, we request that the
Council’s Monitoring Officer write to Cllr Pease to remind
him of his obligations under the Code.
 
Dated 10
November 2025
 
Councillor
Matthew Snedker
Councillor James
McGill
Councillor Alan
Marshall
 
Member
Standards Hearing Committee