Alex Jones, South Wales Editor of Penarth Nub News, reveals a community council plagued by infighting and controversy.

It had been a community council Zoom meeting like any other.

On Friday 25 September, Chair Christopher Morgan ambled steadily through an agenda of bowling greens, memorial benches and shared toilet use between Brownies and Guides.

But then, a political asteroid struck Sully. Cllr Phil Baguley announced he would be resigning after three years of service.

"Before any councillors threaten me with legal action, I would like to let them know that my statement has been reviewed by a lawyer," his statement began.

"I cannot be part of an organisation whose membership includes councillors who only want to disrupt and hamper progress and pursue their own selfish agendas.

"I would remind people that in 2022 there is a full election and please ensure that these people don't get another five years because they don't deserve it."

He continued: "And to the two councillors who reported me to the police, I would like to say that the case was dropped. Good luck next time boys." Ex-councillor Phil Baguley left the Zoom call.

Sensing the dramatic tension, veteran Cllr Lino Scaglioni contributed a prophetic: "This is not the last you'll see of Phil Baguley."

Mr Baguley's resignation is the latest twist in a political battle straight out of House of Cards or Machiavelli's the Prince.

Besides Mr Baguley, a total of seven council members have resigned from Sully and Lavernock Community Council (SLCC) in just three years – a Chair, three councillors and three clerks, many of whom cite bullying and harassment among their grievances.

In council documents obtained by Nub News, councillors are accused of "disrespectful", "disruptive" and "bullying" behaviour. One ex-member also reports being exposed to "sexist and racist comments."

Cllr Rod Thomas is accused of showing a "total disregard for others" while Cllr Ian Barlow is said to have exhibited "threatening" behaviour.

Both Cllr Thomas and Cllr Barlow deny wrongdoing.

Tensions come just 18 months after the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed the SLCC was nearing bankruptcy due to the paid suspension of clerk David Roberts - who was being investigated for allegedly possessing adult images on his work computer.

Statements provided by ex-councillors Michael Garland, Kay Bowring and Mr Baguley, paint a toxic picture of the council from which they have departed.

Mr Garland, who resigned in November 2019, said: "Regular occurrences of bullying and threatening behaviour by certain councillors towards fellow councillors, clerks and staff members have been the main reason for many of the resignations."

Mrs Bowring laments the "bullying, selfishness and unreasonable behaviour of some councillors" and says "the ongoing litany of bullying within the Council must be stopped."

Mr Baguley cites "a sustained harassment and bullying campaign by other members of the Council against [him]" as the reason for his resignation.

The current chair, Cllr Morgan, is working on introducing an anti-bullying and harassment policy that aims to create a more cordial environment.

How did it come to this?

Credit Stubs

The official reason for Cllr Baguley's resignation? Chair Christopher Morgan's decision to apologise to Cllr Ian Barlow for implicating him in the loss of a shoebox containing financial records.

During a 1 September Zoom meeting, Chair Morgan directed the following at Cllr Barlow with regard to the loss of the cheques and paying stubs:

"You either knew they had gone in which case are culpable or you didn't know they had gone in which case you are culpable."

The shoebox was later discovered and "Apology to Ian Barlow" appeared on Friday's meeting agenda. Phil Baguley decided he was to resign.

"The fact that the next item is on the agenda (namely the apology to Ian Barlow) against some councillors' wishes and the fact that no apologies have been made by certain councillors for their actions against Kay Bowring, ex-clerks and ex-councillors […] has put the icing on the cake for me" said Cllr Baguley in his statement.

"For this reason, I from this point resign with immediate effect from the council."

Despite Cllr Baguley's protestations (and an outburst from Cllr Lino Scaglioni – "I do not want to be part of any apology to Ian Barlow"), Chair Christopher Morgan proceeded with his apology.

"I'm going to apologise to him because my mother always told me to always apologise if you make a mistake," said Chair Morgan. "I am sorry, Ian.

"I sincerely hope my decision to make this apology did not influence Phil's decision to resign…"

"It's not the only reason," said Cllr Baguley. "It's the bullying and harassing nature of some of the members.

The incident on the playing field

Many of SLCC controversies are difficult to report on. Sully is a small community, and many involved parties avoid naming names or even providing anonymous testimonies because they fear repercussions.

One resident involved in community groups told Nub News that working with some councillors could be so stressful that it "genuinely left me jumping every time my door went." The source is among those who have asked to remain anonymous.

Cloaked most tightly in secrecy have been the events that took place on the playing fields on 22 May that led directly to the resignation of Mrs Bowring. Until now.

The police have dropped their investigation into the matter, meaning involved parties are free to make their testimonies public. Mrs Bowring has provided a statement on the events of the day, which has been corroborated by Mr Baguley and is in line with a statement provided by another present party, Andrew Noyes.

According to this version of events, Mrs Bowring had authorised the borrowing of an SLCC tractor by Glamorgan County Cricket Club. When then-Chairman Cllr Ian Barlow received word of this, he called an immediate meeting at the sports pavilion. Five councillors attended.

Mrs Bowring did not name the councillors, but Nub News can confirm that they were Cllr Ian Barlow, ex-Cllr Phil Baguley, ex-Cllr Kay Bowring, Cllr Rod Thomas and Cllr Lino Scaglioni.

"The Chairman aggressively stated that there was no such agreement," reads Mrs Bowring's statement.

"The meeting became increasingly heated and another councilor started shouting in an aggressive manner at me asking why I was associating with Cllr Baguley. He started calling him (Cllr Baguley) all manner of disparaging things."

Nub News can confirm Cllr Thomas called Phil Baguley a "football hooligan."

"He then turned to berating the SLCC Groundsman and his father (GCCC). He criticised his work, making extremely derogatory remarks about him. This to my mind was harassment and bullying of the worst kind.

"The aggressive situation deteriorated further with the Chairman having little or no control over proceedings. The Chairman then stated that he was going to call the police. It was clear to me that the Councillor was trying to provoke a response from Cllr Baguley, the head groundsman and his father in the manner that he spoke to them.

"Following the incident, I decided that I could no longer be part of such a regime and resigned."

Cllr Ian Barlow and Cllr Rod Thomas have both declined to publicly comment on the events of that that day, saying it would be inappropriate for councillors to do so.

"Unpleasantness doesn't help the electorate"

Friday's meeting was the first since Cllr Barlow lost a vote of no confidence on 1 September. Of the six councillors presentfor the vote, five voted in favour of the motion. Cllr Rod Thomas abstained.

Cllr Barlow refuses to resign, and he attended Friday's meeting Cllr Thomas refuses to sign up to an anti-bullying and harassment policy because "I'm not giving up my democratic right."

Hannah Bevmoh, Chair of the Sully Village Group, also accused councillors of obstructing village projects and being impossible to work with:

"I help to run many community projects and the obstructive and often unpleasant behaviour from some councillors has genuinely ruined many happy projects for me," she said. "On many occasions I have reconsidered continuing with any projects due to the stress this has caused."

In a conversation with Nub News, Cllr Barlow responded to accusations of bullying and stifling progress.

"Since I became member of the council, my whole policy has been to work for the community rather than take park in petty vendettas. At this lowest level of politics, our roll has to be to serve the community. It might be argued that a few of my colleagues have something to learn from that policy.

"Quite clearly the unpleasantness doesn't help the electorate. I have no idea why they've taken such a disliking to me – you would have to ask them," he added.

"I am saddened by this. You don't mind things being said about you which are factually correct, but when the facts are not necessarily put before the public I am saddened by that, especially considering all the good I have done over 35 years serving the community.

"I am fully committed to the council and more importantly I am fully committed to serving the community."

Cllr Thomas also denied any wrongdoing.

"I employ 30 people. Just ask any of those if I've ever bullied them," he told Nub News.

"The people who are accusing me were never elected by the residents. When I got elected three years ago, 790-odd people voted me in – that's the most they've ever had.

"Why would I ever bully people? All I ever ask of is that they do their jobs."

In spite of the scandals and allegations, the two latest councillors to have resigned (Mr Baguley and Mrs Bowring) remain cautiously optimistic about the future.

Mr Baguley concluded his resignation announcement with the hopeful: "It is my belief that a fresh start is the only way forward and I hope to see changes in the future with our new Chair receiving the support he deserves and being able to implement positive change."

Mrs Bowring similarly remarked: "The new chairman deserves the support of all councillors and villagers as he is trying his utmost to make SLCC a better, more efficient and accountable body."

Penarth Nub News has been unable to contact Chair Morgan for comment. The next election is due to be held in 2022. It is unclear whether Mr Baguley's council position will be filled by election or co-option before then.