Councillor censured after 'threatening' behaviour

A councillor feared for her safety after a colleague's behaviour at a meeting left onlookers worrying he might hit her, an investigation found.

Slough borough councillor Iftakhar Ahmed "made aggressive and threatening gestures" during the residents' meeting to discuss new parking restrictions in October 2023.

Two people had to "interpose themselves" between him and fellow councillor Puja Bedi and he was then escorted out of the Grove School in Chalvey to "defuse the situation".

The council's standards committee voted to censure Ahmed, noted he had "chosen not to apologise or recognise his poor conduct".

It said he should attend training for working with female officers and councillors.

Conservative councillor Bedi was speaking at the meeting as the council's cabinet member responsible for roads.

But fellow Conservative councillor Ahmed – who at that time was also on the council's cabinet – openly opposed the new parking plans.

Members of the authority's standards committee, which heard the complaint on Tuesday, found his conduct amounted to harassment and misogyny.

"Councillor Bedi must have felt a horrendous amount of fear for her safety by councillor Ahmed's conduct," they found.

"It was clear the meeting was not going to plan and there were some very angry residents."

The committee added: "As a strong woman, Councillor Bedi was described by Councillor Ahmed as 'very sensitive' and this is an example of misogyny. Cllr Ahmed should be ashamed of this.

"The committee found that it was an aggravating feature that his behaviour was particularly targeted at a female councillor."

Bedi and Ahmed, who represents Wexham Court ward, were contacted for comment.

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