A SENIOR county councillor, censured for sexually harassing female staff, has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat Party.

Brian Greenslade, former chairman of Devon County Council, was found guilty of serious breaches of conduct last week after an investigation.

A cross-party standards committee, in an unprecedented move, agreed to issue a notice of public censure to Cllr Greenslade – the strongest possible measure against an elected member.

The decision followed a formal complaint from the county council’s chief executive about alleged sexual harassment and abuse of a number of female workers over ‘a number of years.’

Lib Dem leader Alan Connett said: ‘Following the censure of Cllr Greenslade, he was suspended from membership of the Liberal Democrats yesterday and membership of the Liberal Democrat group on the council.

‘He now sits as an independent councillor.’

Alan Rennles, chairman of North Devon Liberal Democrats, said: ‘We are deeply concerned at the findings of the investigation into Cllr Greenslade.

‘Sexual harassment and bullying has no place in any aspect of public life and the Liberal Democrats take a zero tolerance approach to this within the party.

He added: ‘Cllr Greenslade is currently overseas and so he is not in a position to defend himself at present in person.’

The notice of censure states: ‘Cllr Greenslade is hereby formally censured for his sexual misconduct against female members of Devon County Council staff that resulted in the findings of serious and significant breaches of the council’s members’ code of conduct.

‘In particular, the sustained and repeated sexual harassment of female members of staff and abuse of his position as a senior and established member of the council over a prolonged period fell well short of the conduct that can reasonably be expected of an elected member.’

Cllr Greenslade has hit back by threatening to take legal action against the council amid claims his human rights had been breached.

Phil Norrey, the county council’s chief executive, described the veteran North Devon councillor’s response as ‘very disappointing.’

He said: ‘It is particularly sad Cllr Greenslade has chosen to raise objection to the established complaints procedure only when it has applied to him.

‘Given that he, along with fellow councillors, were responsible for putting this procedure in place it seems inappropriate that he might choose to object now.’

He added: ‘Our primary concern has always been, and remains, the welfare of staff and particularly the ongoing impact of his actions on those women most affected.

‘Perhaps what is most disappointing then is that nowhere in his statement is any sense of apology to them.’

Answering the accusation that the meeting was scheduled so that Cllr Greenslade could not attend, the county solicitor Jan Shadbolt said: ‘It is not correct to suggest that a formal council meeting was scheduled so that he could not attend.

‘All our meetings are scheduled well in advance and are a matter of public record. Nor has there ever been a provision for either the complainant, witnesses or the subject member to make representation in person at a standards committee meeting. This is because the independent investigations give all parties an opportunity to put their case and provide evidence.

‘This fact was well known to Cllr Greenslade who was actually on the very committee which helped to set the procedure.

‘The cross-party standards committee and independent lay people who heard this evidence agreed.’