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Cornwall disabled row councillor Collin Brewer censured Cornwall disabled row councillor Collin Brewer censured
(35 minutes later)
A councillor who said disabled children should be "put down" has been censured for his "outrageous and grossly offensive" comments. A councillor has been censured for his "grossly offensive" comments that disabled children should be "put down" and banned from council premises where services for the disabled are provided.
Collin Brewer, who made the comments in 2011, later resigned from Cornwall Council but was was re-elected in May. Collin Brewer, who made the comments in 2011, resigned from Cornwall Council but was re-elected in May.
A council investigation concluded he had seriously breached the members' code of conduct, however the authority said it could not legally remove him. The council said he seriously breached the members' code of conduct, however the it could not legally remove him.
Mr Brewer, 68, from Wadebridge, has been unavailable for comment.Mr Brewer, 68, from Wadebridge, has been unavailable for comment.
A formal investigation started after it emerged Mr Brewer had told a charity worker from the Disability News Service (DNS) that "disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down".A formal investigation started after it emerged Mr Brewer had told a charity worker from the Disability News Service (DNS) that "disabled children cost the council too much money and should be put down".
'Significant distress''Significant distress'
The independent councillor's comments sparked nearly 200 complaints to the authority.The independent councillor's comments sparked nearly 200 complaints to the authority.
Details of the council's decision have been published on its website.Details of the council's decision have been published on its website.
It said the highest level of sanctions available had been imposed on Mr Brewer, including formally censuring him for his "outrageous and grossly insensitive remarks" and the "significant distress they caused".It said the highest level of sanctions available had been imposed on Mr Brewer, including formally censuring him for his "outrageous and grossly insensitive remarks" and the "significant distress they caused".
The monitoring officer who led the investigation has also recommended that Mr Brewer should not sit on any committee that might deal with issues relating to disabled children, or other vulnerable members of the community.The monitoring officer who led the investigation has also recommended that Mr Brewer should not sit on any committee that might deal with issues relating to disabled children, or other vulnerable members of the community.
'Frustrations shared''Frustrations shared'
He will also be banned from access to council premises where services for disabled children are provided.
Mr Brewer will not be nominated as the council's representative on any outside body involved with providing support for disabled children.Mr Brewer will not be nominated as the council's representative on any outside body involved with providing support for disabled children.
A statement said: "We recognise the strength of feeling on this sensitive issue and share the frustrations of members of the public over the limited sanctions at our disposal.A statement said: "We recognise the strength of feeling on this sensitive issue and share the frustrations of members of the public over the limited sanctions at our disposal.
"The monitoring officer has made it clear that if the powers had still been available to the council he would have either recommended that Councillor Brewer be suspended, or referred the matter to the First Tier Tribunal - who would have had wider powers of sanction available to them.""The monitoring officer has made it clear that if the powers had still been available to the council he would have either recommended that Councillor Brewer be suspended, or referred the matter to the First Tier Tribunal - who would have had wider powers of sanction available to them."
The council emphasised it had never had the power to "sack" councillors, although it could previously suspend them following the investigation and determination of code of conduct complaints.The council emphasised it had never had the power to "sack" councillors, although it could previously suspend them following the investigation and determination of code of conduct complaints.
However, government changes to the Code of Conduct complaints process last year means this sanction can no longer be used.However, government changes to the Code of Conduct complaints process last year means this sanction can no longer be used.
The council is considering writing to the Department for Communities and Local Government to express its concern over the removal of the authority's power to impose "meaningful sanctions".The council is considering writing to the Department for Communities and Local Government to express its concern over the removal of the authority's power to impose "meaningful sanctions".