By Patrick LowmanA COUNCILLOR who received a police warning after shoving her disabled neighbour during a “tiff” at a bingo club is to face no further action over her conduct.

By Patrick Lowman

A COUNCILLOR who received a police warning after shoving her disabled neighbour during a “tiff” at a bingo club is to face no further action over her conduct.

Great Cornard parish councillor Carol Beer, 57, said she was pleased after the Standards Board for England ruled it was not appropriate to take any action against her.

The watchdog launched an investigation last year after Ms Beer's neighbour Molly Kirby, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, claimed the councillor had shoved her during an argument over a bingo session at the Community Drop-in Centre in Great Cornard in May last year.

Ms Kirby, who lives just a few doors away from Ms Beer in Great Cornard, called the police after the incident and the Conservative councillor accepted an informal warning from officers investigating the case.

But Ms Kirby, 56, made an official complaint to the Standards Board for England on the grounds the councillor had breached her code of conduct by failing to treat others with respect and had brought the parish council into disrepute.

Ms Beer has admitted shoving her neighbour during the row, but insisted it was not hard and the incident had been nothing, but a tiff.

She welcomed the watchdog's decision and said she felt vindicated. “I am very pleased the Standards Board has come to this decision,” added Ms Beer. “I would now like to put this all behind me and get on with my life.”

But Ms Kirby said she was not happy with the Standards Board and disputed its decision.

A spokesman for the Standards Board for England said it could not yet give full details of its decision as the case summaries were still being prepared.

But he added: “We can confirm there will be no further action in this case and will feel this is the most appropriate outcome.”

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk