Council boss publicly apologises for behaviour at seminar – he admits ‘I sometimes engage my mouth before my brain’

Councillor Neil Emmott

A Rochdale council boss has publicly apologised to two of the authority’s senior officers for his behaviour at a seminar.

West Middleton ward councillor Neil Emmott, portfolio holder for ‘quality of place’, told Mark Widdup and Donna Bowler he was ‘truly sorry’ for his actions.

He is understood to have directed an inappropriate verbal outburst at the pair during the event, which happened over 18 months ago, at a community health centre in the town.

Mr Widdup is the council’s director of neighbourhoods, while Ms Bowler is assistant director for place.

Speaking at Wednesday night’s remote budget-setting meeting, Coun Emmott admitted he sometimes opened his mouth before engaging his brain.

He said: “I want to offer Donna Bowler and Mark Widdup my most sincere apologies for my behaviour at a seminar held at Nye Bevan House, regarding income generation, in June 2019.

“Although it’s regretful that this complaint has dragged on for so long, I do want Donna and Mark to know that I recognise my actions were hurtful and upsetting.

“I recognise that sometimes I can get frustrated and upset and tend to sometimes engage my mouth before my brain and this sometimes results in me offending people.”

He added: “This is what happened at that seminar back in June 2019 and, for that, I am truly sorry.”

The West Middleton ward councillor told the meeting that relations between himself and the two officers had now been fully restored.

“Since this incident we have enjoyed a very productive relationship and, in my opinion, we have worked better together than we have ever worked previously,” he said.

“And in a number of cases I have been extremely impressed with the work Donna and Mark have produced

“I want to provide Donna and Mark with an assurance that this type of behaviour will not happen again in any forum, and I look forward to continuing to work with both of them in a constructive and positive way going forward.”

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