Councillor Jason Baker and his family have reportedly faced “sustained abuse” during a protracted dispute involving allegations of bullying within Chard Town Council.
The issues first came to light in October 2022, when the council commissioned the Rolley Report following eight separate bullying allegations and a notably high turnover of town council clerks over the preceding decade.
Presented to the council in March 2023 and made public the following month, the report described the council as “dysfunctional,” criticising both councillors and officers for an apparent “total lack of strategic vision.” However, the report was later rescinded in March 2024 after an independent investigation found it was “not totally independent or unbiased.” Subsequently, the town council issued a public apology to residents for not acting appropriately.
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More recently, the council has issued a fresh apology to Councillor Baker, accepting that failures in handling complaints “may have had serious and lasting consequences” for him and his family. Mr Baker, who also serves as the representative for the Chard South division on Somerset Council, lodged a formal complaint with the town council in November 2023.
An independent investigation acknowledged that the council had “failed to follow its own procedures” and “did not respond appropriately,” resulting in “unacceptable behaviour” directed towards Mr Baker. This included sustained bullying, vandalism to his home in Chard, and even death threats.
A spokesperson for the council stated: “We recognise that our failures may have had serious and lasting consequences for Mr Baker and his family. The prolonged failure to act may have allowed an unfounded public and online campaign against Councillor Baker to continue unchecked, exposing him to sustained bullying, abuse, and damage to his reputation.
“The resulting impact on his mental health was significant, and the situation escalated to include death threats against both Mr Baker and his family, together with vandalism to the family home.
“We acknowledge the fear, distress and disruption these events caused and recognise that Mr Baker and his family should never have been placed in such a position.”
The council issued a “full, sincere and unreserved” apology to Mr Baker during a meeting held at The Guildhall on 30 April, which was only recently made publicly available.
It was also confirmed that other complaints made about Mr Baker would not be pursued by Somerset Council’s monitoring officer, who handles conduct issues escalated by town and parish councils. Meanwhile, Mr Baker’s complaint against a Chard Town Council officer was partially upheld.
The council emphasised its commitment to learning from these events, pledging to enhance procedures to ensure complaints are “handled fairly, promptly, and in accordance with its responsibilities so that similar failings are not repeated.”
Mr Baker responded by accepting the council’s apology, expressing hope it signals a lasting change in the council’s culture. He said: “The events of the past few years have had a profound and lasting impact on both me and my family.
“We have experienced sustained abuse, bullying, false accusations, damage to my reputation, fear for our safety, unacceptable behaviour at council meetings, and the emotional impact of death threats and the vandalism of our family home.
“Those experiences cannot simply be undone by an apology, and the effects will remain with us for a long time.
“I am grateful that the council has acknowledged that its failures may have had serious and lasting consequences for me and my family, and that it has recognised the fear, distress, disruption, and personal, emotional and reputational impact that we have experienced.
“I hope this apology represents a genuine commitment to ensuring that no individual or family has to endure what we have experienced.
“I will take time to reflect carefully on the apology and what it represents.”
Despite the council’s apology, Mr Baker noted he has received further complaints concerning his conduct, involving a fellow councillor and a member of staff.
He asserted: “I believe it is important to place on record that, despite the repeated allegations made against me, I have never been found to have breached the members' code of conduct.
“Throughout this difficult period, my priority has always been to serve the residents of Chard honestly, diligently and with integrity. Despite everything that has happened, I remain committed to public service.
“My hope is that today’s apology is not simply an acknowledgement of past failings, but the beginning of a culture in which fairness, accountability and respect prevail, so that no councillor or their family is ever placed in the position that mine has endured.”