A Newport councillor has been formally reprimanded and ordered to undergo additional training after telling a call handler to 'speak English' during a phone call to report fly-tipping. Independent councillor Janet Cleverly, who represents the Bettws ward, made the remarks to a local authority call handler on August 9, 2024.
An ombudsman's investigation described Cleverly's comments as 'derogatory and humiliating' and 'not what is expected of an elected member'. During the call, the handler had attempted to inform the councillor about disruptive sounds on the line and asked her to repeat certain details. Cleverly interrupted, saying: 'I'm sorry, can I speak to somebody who's speaking English?' Later, she said: 'Sorry? I can't understand anything you're saying. Speak English!'
That same day, Cleverly sent an email to the cabinet member for environmental matters, stating: 'I phoned in a complaint about fly tipping this morning and the person I spoke to, could not speak English properly... this person took all my information wrong after I had to repeat everything 3-4 times.' A customer services manager reviewed the recorded call and raised concerns about her 'unnecessary' manner.
The council's monitoring officer described the call handler's English as fluent and said Cleverly's remarks were 'consciously or otherwise, racially motivated' and 'discriminatory'. The call handler was 'very emotional and upset' following the incident but later withdrew from the investigation. Cleverly later told the ombudsman she had worked in BME communities throughout her career and had 'lots of BME friends', characterising the call as a 'really bad line'.
At a Newport City Council standards committee hearing on April 23, Cleverly apologised and said she was 'mortified' by her actions. The committee found she had violated three areas of the council's code for members: equality, respect and consideration of others, and disreputable conduct. Chairman Andrew Mitchell said the panel was 'extremely concerned'. Cleverly was reprimanded and ordered to undertake additional training.
