Two Hadleigh Together councillors have refused to apologise even after Code of Conduct complaints were upheld against them.

Councillors James Bayliss and Richard Hinton were reported to the Babergh Monitoring Officer after suggesting all district and some town councillors 'should be shot'. Full story here.

Following a complaint about the remarks from a member of the public that asked to remain anonymous due to a fear of recriminations, the monitoring officer in consultation with an Independent Person, it was found Cllrs Hinton and Bayliss were in breach of section one of the Suffolk Local Code of Conduct in that they have failed to treat others with respect.

Although no formal sanctions were ordered, the monitoring officer recommended that the pair ensure that they do not make any comments of this nature again in a public forum, even if meant as a joke, and that they consider making an apology to the relevant councillors.

No such apology has been forthcoming and both Bayliss and Hinton, who are both members of the Hadleigh Together political party, with Cllr Hinton named as its leader.

Both councillors have refused to comment on the findings. Cllr Bayliss has shown no contrition at his wrongdoing, while Cllr Hinton did voice his regret at making the shooting statement in the immediate aftermath, when calls for both to resign were made by the Babergh leader and some residents.

No mention of the upheld Code of Conduct complaint was made at last Thursday's town council meeting, although Cllr Bayliss was not at the meeting, Cllr Hinton was and could have used the meeting to apologise by asking for it to be put on the agenda.

Cllr Hinton, who is a solicitor with the Suffolk Law centre has referred himself to the Solicitors' Regulatory Authority. Full story here... although no decision has been published.

This is the second code of conduct complaint upheld against Cllr Hinton this year after he failed to declare an interest in an item involving his wife, which resulted in him needing to update his register of interest and receiving advice regarding his behaviour.