Oakham mayor Zoe Nealson felt victim-blamed after reporting fellow councillor Adam Lowe for inappropriate behaviour
A councillor says she feels victim-blamed after reporting a colleague for inappropriate behaviour.
Much of Zoe Nealson’s mayoral year has been overshadowed by an investigation into fellow town councillor Adam Lowe.
She reported him to Rutland County Council’s conduct committee in July last year after he made inappropriate comments during a visit to her home.
A nine-month investigation found he was in breach of Oakham Town Council’s code of conduct by behaving in a disrespectful and intimidating way.
Sanctions were placed on him for six months, meaning he cannot serve on a town council committee or outside body, but he can continue as a councillor.
Despite the committee ruling in her favour, Coun Nealson said she has felt a lack of support from the town council.
She said: “I’m glad I pursued the complaint. Behaviour and attitudes are things that people need to stand up to. I’d expect someone to stand up to me if I did something wrong.
“I hope this investigation has taught Adam that he needs to consider what he’s saying.”
The complaint follows an incident on July 16 when Coun Lowe visited the mayor at her home to discuss an issue with the town council.
Coun Nealson says he was putting pressure on her to make a decision affecting the council, and also made an inappropriate comment.
She also said he sent her an email she found threatening after she filed her complaint.
Coun Nealson said: “The language he used was intimidating and harassing.
“I felt vulnerable and he was leering over me, but I didn’t feel strong enough to tell him to leave so tried to steer the conversation back to council issues.”
Coun Nealson’s wife was home at the time and when she came down from upstairs, Coun Lowe left.
The couple reported the incident to the monitoring officer at Rutland County Council the same day and the investigation lasted nine months.
Oakham Town Council wasn’t informed until the ruling was made on March 22, and neither councillor was allowed to discuss the complaint during the investigation.
On April 13 Oakham Town Council set a time-frame of six months for the sanctions to remain in place.
Coun Nealson, who has three children, said: “After the meeting people were saying that I’d just misunderstood his banter.
“As women we’ve all felt that way - being made to feel uncomfortable but not able to say anything. I don’t want my girls growing up feeling like that and I don’t want my boy to grow up thinking it’s OK to make someone feel that way.”
Coun Nealson’s year as mayor will end on May 11 and she is still deciding whether to continue as a town councillor.
She said: “This has made me feel isolated and it’s more daunting to think I’ll be leaving the top table and sitting back with the other councillors.
“I want to carry on because the reasons I joined the council are still there. I wanted to work to keep the town a great place.
“Those reasons are still there but the reasons to resign are overwhelming. I don’t feel I’ve got a lot of support from other councillors and I feel victim-shamed.
“I have to weigh up what’s best for me and my family. I want to keep going and hold my head up high, but the anxiety of the situation is keeping me awake at night and making me unhappy.”
Coun Nealson will lead the annual town meeting on May 10 before handing over the mayoral chains the following day.
Coun Lowe declined to comment on the details of the investigation but said he plans to continue as a town councillor and may stand again at the next election in 2023.