Donna Bruce. PHOTO: ODT FILES The Gore District Council yesterday agreed to accept an apology from councillor Donna Bruce over a homophobic comment she made at a workshop in April ‘‘and move on’’. Cr Bruce, speaking to the council, called the code of conduct process that resulted from her comment ‘‘lengthy’’ and ‘‘difficult’’ and said she was disappointed it had led to this point. She said the investigation had caused her significant personal stress, as well as costing the council time, money and energy. ‘‘Although I accept code of conduct complaints have an important place, I struggle to see how the time, cost and public attention devoted to this matter are proportionate to the findings that it was neither significant nor serious,’’ she said. Cr Bruce then suggested becoming early adopters of the new LGNZ standardised code of conduct to settle potential future matters in-house. Cr Bruce had previously rejected a recommended mediation process around the issue. A report by investigator James Cowan, of Anderson Lloyd, tabled at yesterday’s council meeting, had found a code of conduct breach had been made and recommended Cr Bruce apologise. Cr Bruce told the meeting the report’s findings were clear — ‘‘the matter was found to be not bullying, not harassment, not significant and not serious.’’ She again said she did not recall making the comment and apologised if any member of staff was affected, referencing a separate code of conduct complaint which said her conduct was polite and respectful with staff. Cr Mel Cupit described the issue as a ‘‘storm in a teacup’’ and it was time to consider the matter closed. She also asked how much the investigation had cost the council. She was told no invoices have been received by the council as yet. Cr Nicky Coats said the apology was brave, and suggested the invoices be brought forward to the council in the future, which was supported by Cr Stewart MacDonell. On Monday, Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said he put the incident down to growing pains for the new council. ‘‘I think compared to last term, I wouldn’t say this is rocky at all. ‘‘I think it takes any council a little bit to get acclimatised to the different personalities around the table. ‘‘At the end of the day, we have rules, we have standing orders and we have code of conduct and councillors have signed off on those. ‘‘It’s a part of the requirements, they have to stick to those rules,’’ he said.
