Report unveils 'toxic' political environment at Dudley Council

The allegations were made by Dudley Labour’s ex-deputy leader, Judy Foster, who claimed members of the public had to ‘restrain’ Conservative Cllr Bex Collins.

Cllr Collins, who now sits on the authority for Hayley Green and Cradley South, denies ‘launching herself’ at her rival and says people were consoling her.

In November, the Dudley Council’s Standards Sub-Committee ruled on official complaints against Cllr Collins from Ms Foster.

Ms Foster also faced a formal complaint from Cllr Sue Greenaway, who also represented Brockmoor and Pensnett during 2022 and early 2023 when the alleged war of words was at its peak.

The council released documents in the public interest, including a previously confidential report by investigating solicitors Wilkin Chapman LLP.

The report includes Ms Foster’s version of the incident, which she alleges took place during a bingo session at Brockmoor Community Centre.

In the document, Ms Foster said: “At my final attendance on 7 October 2022, Councillor Collins, and other centre users who at the time were allies of Cllr Collins had rounded on me and I found out later that evening, from a witness, that there was an attempt by Councillor Collins to physically assault me.

“That was reported to the police first by myself, but it could not be recorded as I had not witnessed it.”

The report also includes an account from witness Kelly Hickman, who said: “Councillor Collins was screaming and shouting and jumped up waving her arms at Councillor Foster. I had to intervene and get between them.”

The report included Cllr Collins’ response to the allegation; she said: “ I do not condone violence or hostility.

“I deny this. I can evidence that I was being comforted, not restrained, following Cllr Foster’s unreasonable behaviour.”

Ms Foster resigned as a Dudley Councillor

Ms Foster, who resigned as a Dudley councillor two weeks before the standards committee hearings, made a total of 43 allegations against Cllr Collins, including that she leaked details of private conversations, removed or defaced Cllr Foster’s surgery posters, was so aggressive towards Cllr Foster that she felt it necessary to contact police and circulated a newsletter containing dishonest and misleading information.

The report also contains an account from Kelly Hickman about an alleged incident at the community centre.

She says: “When Councillor Collins and her partner arrived at the centre on 6 May, Councillor Foster went and hid in a store room and called the police. Councillor Foster told the police about the abuse she was receiving.

“I went into the committee room with Councillor Collins, where she demanded I drag all the members into the Committee room to confront them because she said they were all ‘full of sh*t’. I point blank refused.”

The report says Cllr Collins did not provide a comment on this statement but added: “Her comments that Ms Hickman ‘drag’ the committee members into the room and that they are all “full of s***” are aggressive, inappropriate and intimidating.

“We consider this conduct is wholly inappropriate for a councillor and displays bullying behaviour.”

Cllr Collins concerned she was unabel to defend herself effectively

Minutes from the hearing, also published by the council, show Cllr Collins was concerned she had not been able to defend herself effectively.

The minutes also say Cllr Collins felt there had been a significant impact on her and her family both mentally and physically as a result of the investigation but she ‘wished Ms Foster the best in her future endeavours and would accept any sanctions deemed appropriate’.

The sub-committee found Cllr Collins had breached principles of the Members’ Code of Conduct by failing to treat other councillors and members of the public with respect, showing acts of bullying and bringing her role into disrepute.

Cllr Collins was instructed to write a letter of apology to the chair of the Audit and Standards Committee.

Another confidential report released by the council outlines the case against Ms Foster, who was no longer subject to formal findings or sanctions because she was no longer a councillor.

The sub-committee, however, continued with the hearing in the public interest to make general recommendations for the benefit of future standards.

The report says Cllr Greenaway alleges that around 14 March 2023, Councillor Foster uploaded a social media post on several local websites accusing her of cheating and favouring one of the candidates for the Mayor’s Award.

It continues to say Conservative Cllr Greenaway claims the post contains accusations that are untrue and, consequently, the post caused distress and impacted on her health and wellbeing.

Also that the former mayor, who now represents Kingswinford South, alleges that, as a result of Councillor Foster’s conduct, she retired from all social aspects of her life and that she became a “virtual recluse”.

Minutes from the meeting said: “J Foster apologised to Councillor S Greenaway and expressed her regret for any wrongdoing on her behalf and emphasised that she had been subject to significant stress and consistent harassment and bullying during the period of the incident, which had impacted upon her behaviour and unwise decision making.”

Among its conclusions, the sub-committee commented: “There appeared to be a toxic environment between all three Brockmoor and Pensnett Ward councillors during the period under consideration.”