THE leader of Cheshire East Council was forced to deny passing the buck on workplace bullying after being challenged by a Middlewich town councillor.

Cllr Jonathan Parry quizzed members at Thursday's full council meeting – the first to be held since the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed more than 200 members of staff had experienced bullying at CEC in the six months up to January.

The Labour town councillor was twice applauded by members of the public as he suggested issues raised in the LGA's report were being 'brushed under the carpet'.

Cllr Parry said: "Is it not delusional that 'all is well' given the lives that have been ruined, both personal and professional, at the hands of this organisation?

"There are huge problems in this council and they have been getting steadily worse.

"Is it now wrong for the leader to keep blaming her predecessor for the bullying culture in CEC, given the fact that over the last six months the problems have got worse under her leadership?"

Cllr Parry was briefly stopped by Cllr Arthur Moran, mayor of east Cheshire, before calling for Cllr Barry Moran to step down from his role as chairman of the staffing committee – a call which was later echoed by Cllr Damian Bailey, Labour CEC member for Crewe St Barnabas.

"Change is needed for the good of this council and the public it serves," Cllr Parry added.

"It is deeply upsetting to hear of the horrendous time members of staff had to go through because of this bullying culture within the council.

"Are the bullies going to be named and shamed, and dealt with appropriately, or will this be swept away into history?"

The LGA review had found that 24 per cent of 1,509 staff surveyed had witnessed bullying at the council, while 14 per cent had experienced it personally.

Following Cllr Parry's question, Cllr Rachel Bailey, leader of CEC, denied she was passing the blame onto Michael Jones – who she replaced as leader two years ago.

"The review of culture was specifically commissioned for the last six months," she said.

"Its findings are current, and I would therefore say that I am not blaming, in any way, matters on my predecessor.

"The LGA review of culture was absolutely clear in that it said that when this council was formed, an opportunity was missed to set the culture and tone. And I accept that."

Cllr Bailey added that she was equally 'proud' of staff at CEC, but 'horrified' that some employees had experienced bullying.

The mayor had already called for respect from all members of the council in light of the LGA review's findings when opening the meeting.

"Changing the culture of the organisation is a responsibility of us all – officers and members," Cllr Moran said.

"We must all avoid the tendency to believe that this responsibility rests with others – in the leading group or in the opposition groups."