CONTROVERSIAL Hughenden parish councillor Gloria Leflaive has been officially censured and thrown off all the council's committees after colleagues accused her of harassing the clerk.

The measures, unanimously approved by councillors on Tuesday, were triggered after Cllr Leflaive criticised the council in the Bucks Free Press in December. Parish clerk Lynn Turner made an official complaint after Cllr Leflaive accused the council of frequently contravening the Government's parish council code of conduct.

Mrs Turner said she felt the accusations were also aimed at her.

Cllr Leflaive was not at Tuesday's meeting but she has criticised the recommendations originally made in a private meeting on February 2. She has also denied harrassing the clerk.

After that meeting Cllr Leflaive sent a letter to other councils and some parishioners condemning the council for not dealing properly with the clerk's original complaint.

Parish council vice-chairman David Frost told the meeting on Tuesday: "Most of the recipients of the letter will regard this as just another load of drivel.

"She Cllr Leflaive talks about so-called rights of appeal, there is no such right of appeal or provision for an independent tribunal.

"Everybody with a small knowledge of local government will regard this as the rubbish it undoubtedly is.

"It is the way the letter is written. When you start putting comments in bold and underlining other ones it makes the writer look unhinged.

"We should probably send it to her doctor and ask him to arrange for a consultation."

Council chairman Cllr John Rogers said: "What she has said has emphasised the irresponsible behaviour of Cllr Leflaive. She should have placed her reply before the council. This is totally improper behaviour."

Cllr Leflaive was unavailable for comment.

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