A DISTRICT councillor has come under fire for his behaviour during a planning meeting.

Selby Independent Councillor John McCartney became involved in a heated exchange with the planning committee chairman Councillor James Deans at a meeting on March 6.

An extraordinary meeting of Selby District Council was held this week to discuss allegations that Eggborough ward councillor had seriously breached the Councillor Code of Conduct with claims he had “behaved disrespectfully”.

A statement from Selby District Council said it had agreed that Coun McCartney had breached the Code of Conduct on two counts by behaving in a way that a reasonable person would regard as disrespectful to them, and by bringing the office of councillor into disrepute.

Jonathan Lund, deputy chief executive of the council and monitoring officer, said: “This is a serious breach of the Councillor Code of Conduct. Members of the public have a reasonable expectation that their planning applications will receive considered, measured and balanced consideration from councillors who take their responsibilities seriously. To raise one’s voice, swear repeatedly and personally insult a councillor, particularly when that councillor is acting as the chair of committee and when the behaviour is taking place at a public meeting and with members of the public present is not acceptable.”

The council recommended to the independent group that Coun McCartney should be replaced as an independent group member on the planning committee.

Coun McCartney has sent an open email to councillors in which he said that when he had asked a planning officer a question, he had not wished to hear the chairman’s view instead.