very complaint lodged against a Torbay councillor since summer 2023

Thirty Torbay councillors have had official complaints lodged against them since the summer of 2023, a new report reveals.

There were 57 complaints lodged during that time, most by fellow councillors but some by members of the public. There were also complaints lodged against members of Torbay Council by its own officers.
In 2024 a peer review by the Local Government Association said the behaviour of some council members was affecting the authority’s reputation.
The report said: “The issues are vested in a very small number of elected members, from across the council chamber, who must ask themselves what they want their legacy to be.”
Most complaints warranted no further actions, but 17 prompted formal warnings to the councillors involved and seven resulted in letters of apology being written.
Five required the removal or amendment of social media posts.
Two of the highest-profile cases highlighted in the list are those of Cllr Katya Maddison (Ind, Shiphay) and Cllr Hazel Foster (Con, Wellswood).
After a complaint by a council officer in February 2025, Cllr Maddison was found to have breached three sections of the council’s code of conduct, those that say members must treat others with courtesy and respect; must not bully or harass any person and must not bring the council into disrepute.
She had to undergo training and was told to apologise.
In March 2025 there were four complaints from members of the public and a councillor against Cllr Foster following a social media post which appeared to reference black police officers in Torquay. No evidence was found that she had failed to follow the code of conduct but she was asked to remove or amend the social media post.
On June 26 2024, all on the same day, 17 Liberal Democrat councillors were subject to complaints from a fellow councillor that they had not treated others with courtesy and respect, and may have brought the council into disrepute.
Formal warnings were issued to all 17 councillors.
The full list of complaints and outcomes is as follows:
Complaints lodged by council officers
Cllr Katya Maddison (Ind, Shiphay): 11.02.2025, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a), 4.3(a), 4.3 (h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – Sanctions imposed were training on the governance of a council and the required procedures and protocols. Read and familiarise herself with the local protocol on member and officer Relations. An unequivocal apology, at the next full council meeting. Written apology. Recommendations – the Leader of the Council consider suspending councillor from the position of member champion for culture, until training on the governance of a council and the required procedures and protocols has been undertaken. The Independent group leader consider suspending councillor from all committees and council-appointed outside bodies to which she represents the council, until training on the governance of a council and the required procedures and protocols has been undertaken.
Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton): 25.06.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action.
Complaints lodged by members of the public
Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton): 20.06.2023, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 01.08.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action
Cllr Nick Bye (Con, Wellswood): 15.02.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action.
Cllr Hazel Foster (Con, Wellswood): 12.03.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the member Code of Conduct – remove or amend social media post. 12.03.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the member Code of Conduct – remove or amend social media post. 12.03.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the member Code of Conduct – remove or amend social media post.
Cllr Jason Hutchings (Ind, Furzeham with Summercombe): 25.06.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 25.06.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 04.12.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action.
Cllr Andrew Strang (Con, Furzeham with Summercombe): 15.11.2024, Minor breach of paragraph 4.2(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written.
Cllr David Thomas (Con, Preston): 01.08.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action
Cllr Jackie Thomas (Con, Kings Ash): 15.11.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 15.11.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 01.08.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action
Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton): 20.06.2023, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action.
Complaints lodged by fellow councillors
Cllr Nicole Amil (Ind, Cockington with Chelston): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Jermaine Atiya-Alla (Lib Dem, Ellacombe):  Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Adam Billings (Con, Churston with Galmpton) 16.11.2023, Complaint insubstantial and contains no evidence that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 03.04.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 
Cllr Martin Brook (Con, Collaton St Mary): 28.02.2025, No evidence that a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members has occurred – no further action.
Cllr Christine Carter (Lib Dem, Roundham with Hyde) 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Darren Cowell (Ind, Shiphay): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr George Darling (Lib Dem, St Marychurch): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Mandy Darling (Lib Dem, Tormohun): 15.01.2024, Not in public interest to pursue the matter due to apology already being made and accepted by complainant – no further action.
Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe): 12.03.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written. 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued. 24.09.2024, No breach of the Code of Conduct for Members – no further action. 24.09.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members – no sanction imposed. 24.09.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written. 24.09.2024, No breach of the Code of Conduct for Members.  – no further action.
Cllr Margaret Douglas-Dunbar (Lib Dem, Clifton with Maidenway): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Hazel Foster (Con, Wellswood): 12.03.2025, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the member Code of Conduct – remove or amend social media post. 30.09.2025, The complaint does not disclose a sufficiently serious potential breaches of the Code of Conduct for Members to merit further consideration – no further action
Cllr Mike Fox (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Kelly Harvey (Lib Dem, St Marychurch): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Cat Johns (lib Dem, Clifton with Maidenway): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Cordelia Law (Lib Dem, Tormohun): 12.03.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written. 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Chris Lewis (Con, Preston): 20.10.2023, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 03.04.2024, No evidence contained in the allegation that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action.
Cllr Swithin Long (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Katya Maddison (Ind, Shiphay): 22.03.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – removal of social media post and apology to be written. 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Yannis Nicolau (Lib Dem, Ellacombe): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Nigel Penny (Lib Dem, Roundham with Hyde): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Nick Pentney (Lib Dem, Tormohun): 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Cllr Mark Spacagna (Con, Cockington with Chelston): 28.02.2025, No evidence that a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members has occurred – no further action.
Cllr Hannah Stevens (Con, Furzeham with Summercombe): 28.02.2025, No evidence that a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members has occurred – no further action.
Cllr David Thomas (Con, Preston): 16.11.2023, Complaint insubstantial and contains no evidence that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 16.11.2023, Complaint dismissed as it did not disclose a sufficiently serious potential breach of the Code to merit further consideration – no further action. 16.11.2023, Complaint politically motivated and contains no evidence that indicates a failure to follow the Member Code of Conduct – no further action. 12.03.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written.
Cllr Ras Virdee (Lib Dem, St Marychurch): 12.03.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – letter of apology to be written. 26.06.2024, Breach of paragraph 4.2(a) and 4.3(h) of the Code of Conduct for Members – formal warning issued.
Paragraph 4.2(a) of the Code of Conduct for Members says members must treat others with courtesy and respect. Paragraph 4.3(a) says members must not bully or harass any person.
Paragraph 4.3(h) says members must not conduct themselves in a manner or behave in such a way so as to give a reasonable person the impression that they have brought their office or the council into disrepute.
The complaints will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s standards committee next week (November 25). Political group leaders will be asked to promote high standards and ethics as well as encouraging members to take refresher training if needed.