Ex-fire chairman to undergo boundaries training

A councillor and former head of Avon Fire Authority (AFA) has been ordered to undergo training in equalities and professional boundaries.

A South Gloucestershire Council standards sub-committee found that Ben Nutland had breached its member code of conduct. The decision follows a similar ruling by an AFA panel in the summer and Mr Nutland has since resigned from the AFA.

The hearing related to an incident in Bristol in November 2024 in which he allegedly calleda female employee "stunning" and followed her into a hotel room, the committee heard.

The panel said he had "acted in a manner which was offensive and humiliating" towards the woman. Mr Nutland said: "I note the panel's decision."

He added that he had been prevented from presenting evidence at the hearing in November.

Mr Nutland is alleged to have asked the female employee to "go upstairs" with him and followed her into a room where he removed his shoes and jacket and got onto her bed.

The employee asked him to leave and he did so "without making any physical contact with her", the committee heard.

Mr Nutland also tried to get another female member of staff to dance with him "despite being clearly told she did not want to," and this made her "feel uncomfortable", according to the panel's report.

He now sits as an independent councillor for Yate North after being suspended by the Liberal Democrats, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In an unrelated complaint, the sub-committee found Mr Nutland had breached Yate Town Council's code of conduct, although it cleared him of five of six allegations related to an alleged incident in 2023.

Mr Nutland said: "Importantly, an expert independent investigator appointed by the council examining all relevant evidence found no breaches of the Code of Conduct.

"I was cleared on five of the six accusations with only a minor breach found.

"I will complete the recommended training once the council organises it."

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