Freshly elected councillor disqualified over council employment

A Bristol City Council councillor elected just last month has been disqualified after it was found she was a council employee.

Deborah Vittori, a primary school teacher who works for a council-run school, was disqualified under the Local Government Act 1972. 

Bristol's Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Tim O’Gara, wrote in a notice that Vittori’s office had been made vacant with immediate effect pursuant to section 86 of the 1972 Act "on the grounds that she is disqualified from being a member of the Council, pursuant to section 80(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 i.e. being a paid officer of the local authority".

Vittori was elected to Horfield Ward in the elections earlier this month. A by-election for the seat is now expected.

In a statement given to the BBC, Vittori said: "I am shocked, and absolutely gutted, to discover that, because of my job as a teacher in a local authority maintained primary school, the law will prevent me from serving the people of Horfield who put their trust in me."

She said she was unaware that her job meant she was ineligible to be a councillor, "and it is a great shame that this did not come to light earlier in the process".

Bristol City Council has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey