John Galvin rapped for saying: "This man's being a pillock"

Now a standards sub-committee meeting is to be held next Monday to examine the actions of area planning committee chairman John Galvin.

Council official Christine Bainton investigated after complaints were made about Cllr Galvin by Andrew Dickinson, Rosy Dickinson and Michael Askew during consideration of a controversial planning application to convert the former Groves Chapel near Union Terrace into a supermarket.

They complained about his actions during a planning site visit on March 9 and then a planning sub-committee meeting on April 7, claiming he had a conflict of interest, acted with bias, failed to treat people present with respect, and bullied and intimidated them.

Ms Bainton rejected the other complaints but found he breached the code of conduct by failing to treat others with respect when he used the term pillock in relation to a man who was driving a lorry around Union Terrace to demonstrate opponents’ concerns.

“That Councillor Galvin used the term “pillock” is not in itself a breach of the code,” she said.

“He said this under his breath and it was not intended to cause offence as he did not direct it at any one person. It is however a derogatory term made at the meeting and was made specifically about a member of the public.”

She said Cllr Galvin, like any one, was entitled to express his views. “He is however in a position of authority which has a clearly proscribed code of conduct which states he must treat others with respect.”

She said Cllr Galvin asserted that ‘pillock’ was a slang term meaning “stupid person’ and believed it was not a swear word, and his comments were not directed to a member of the public.

The standards committee will decide whether Cllr Galvin breached the Code and, if so, determine whether a sanction should be imposed.

Cllr Galvin said he was delighted Ms Baines had thrown out ‘98 per cent’ of the complaints after a thorough inquiry.