A Tory councillor is facing a motion of no confidence following “deeply offensive” comments made in a committee meeting and later redacted.
Wendy Agnew, a councillor for Stonehaven and Lower Deeside in Aberdeenshire, is facing a backlash following remarks she made about the Gypsy/Traveller community during a meeting of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee.
According to the Press and Journal, an argument arose in the meeting as councillors considered proposals for a permanent caravan park in Portlethen.
Aberdeenshire Council has since censored the public recording of the meeting “to avoid potential offence to viewers”.
The newspaper reports that it obtained a transcript of the comments and that the question of “equality” was raised as the councillor railed against the applicants for submitting their plans retrospectively – with the caravans already in place at Findon Park just outside of Aberdeen.
Despite being told this would not be grounds to oppose the proposals, she argued it could indicate a willingness to flout the rules.
She said: “If they’re ignoring this, they may ignore other things. That’s my problem.”
The councillor further added: “I don’t want to refute it. Anything could happen there. That’s all. It’s slightly worrying to me.
“And I’m not saying it’s just because they’re Gypsies. It would be the same if they were British people. I’d be worried about this massive site. That’s all.”
SNP councillor Dawn Black, who also serves the Stonehaven and Lower Deeside ward, has now lodged a motion of no confidence in Agnew following the comments she made at the meeting on November 21.
The motion calls on Agnew to be removed from her position as chair of the committee and for a new person to be appointed.
“It is simply unsustainable and entirely inappropriate for a councillor to remain in a position of responsibility when they have made comments so deeply offensive that council officers do not feel that they can remain on the public record,” Black said.
“Cllr Agnew made the suggestion that Gypsy-Travellers were not British and, despite me seeking clarification, continued on to repeat her statement.
“This followed a number of other disparaging comments from her which I felt were disrespectful to gypsy-travellers.
“Our commitments and responsibilities to all Gypsy-Travellers residing in Aberdeenshire are clear – and they cannot continue to have faith in our ability to represent them fairly when a senior councillor has shown such blatant disrespect towards them.
“I hope that the Conservatives will reflect strongly on the suitability of Agnew not only to continue in her role as area chair, but also as a representative of their party.”
A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council told the Press and Journal: “Following a review of comments made during November’s meeting of Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee, it has been decided not to reinstate the short section of video concerned to avoid potential offence to viewers.
“Any notice of motion lodged for a committee’s consideration would be published in the relevant agenda ahead of the meeting itself.”
The National has approached Agnew for comment.
