A debate over a shared office photocopier used by both Tenby Town Council and staff of the De Valence Trust, has sparked off a row leading to a town councillor complaining about the conduct of the Mayor during meetings.

The argument stems from an issue discussed at a previous meeting of the council on August 3, concerning access to their office at the De Valence Pavilion, where the photocopier machine is located and used by both the staff of the council and the trust.

The trust feel that they should be able to use the photocopying facility when the council office is closed, while the Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, believes that the trust staff should not have access to the office out of hours, for confidentiality and security reasons.

Raising the matter again at Tuesday night's meeting of the council, Clr. Mike Thorne felt that a "mountain had been made out of a molehill" on the photocopying issue and asked for more co-operation to be made with their partners in the building.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans, disagreed with her colleague that it was a "petty" issue and again stressed that it was a matter of security.

Following the original discussions on the matter last month, Clr. Thorne lodged a complaint with the town clerk via email, stating that the manner in which the Mayor conducted herself and performed the duties of the chair, was bringing the council into disrepute.

"Following the last meeting, I was minded to complain directly to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, but I am advised that in the first instance I should give the Mayor and the council an opportunity to respond to the complaint," wrote Clr. Thorne in his statement to the town clerk, Mr. Andrew Davies.

"My complaint is that the Mayor has breached the 'Code of Conduct' for councillors in respect of her behaviour towards me in particular, but also to other councillors and to you. She does not show respect and consideration for others, and she bullies and harasses," he added. 

Referring to the previous meeting, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter felt that Clr. Thorne's conduct was open to complaint too, claiming that he often came into meetings to cause "disruption".

"Clr. Thorne lost his temper with me at that meeting, and it's not the first time that he's shouted and lost his temper," she stated, before proposing that every future outburst be minuted.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Evans, felt that as a complaint was being lodged, the matter should not be discussed in the council forum and that, if there was a procedure in place for such matters, it should be adopted on this occasion.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas agreed, stating that it would be sad to see an ombudsman brought in.

Clr. Paul Rapi told his colleagues that any personal issues and personality clashes should be left outside the council chamber during any meetings.

"I'm privileged to be a part of Tenby Town Council, and we all have the right to debate and discuss matters, but if we can't agree on certain things, then that should be it; personal issues shouldn't come into it," he stressed.

"The Mayor does an excellent job and Clr. Thorne also does a lot of hard work for the council. We must move on and put our personal feelings aside."

In defending her position as chair at the meetings, Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Lane, said that it was her duty to control discussions as fairly and as well as she could, with Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain giving her backing to the Mayor, saying that she did a very good job in sometimes "trying" circumstances.

Clr. Thorne, though, wanted an acceptance that there were concerns over how the council operates during meetings, while Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown felt that certain problems could only be solved by a mediator.

In a letter on the matter, Clr. David Stock (the newest member, who could not be present at the meeting), wrote that he had noticed certain groupings in the chamber during his time on the council.

"The town council is here to represent the community and decisions should be made based on a vote, with what's right for the people of Tenby the most important concern," he stated.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Evans, called for the debate to be put aside for now and for progress to be moved with the meeting.