Sanction of Cllr Broadhurst 24th September 2025

 

The Sub-Committee considered the final report of the Investigating Officer, Neil Concannon (Head of Litigation & Regulatory and Deputy Monitoring Officer, City of Doncaster Council (CDC)) which was presented to the Monitoring Officer on 4th August, 2025.

The report related to allegations in respect of Councillor Mark Broadhurst of Hatfield Town Council (“HTC”) and City of Doncaster Council (“CDC”), that he had breached various sections of the HTC and CDC Member Codes of Conduct.

The investigation had been undertaken following the receipt of two separate complaints, both of which were made by members of the public, by the Monitoring Officer on 15th May, 2025.  The complaints alleged that councillor Mark Broadhurst had breached various sections of the HTC and CDC Member Codes of Conduct, in relation to two separate posts made on his Facebook page:-

  • One post was from the “Mark Broadhurst” Facebook page dated the 19th March 2024 and contained a picture of Adolf Hitler with a caption that read “For f**k sake if I had chosen Muslims I would have been a f**king legend”.

  • The second post was again from the “Mark Broadhurst” Facebook page dated the 30th March 2024. This was entitled “How to make a Muslim” followed by 4 pictures of an Asian man with the following captions: “step 1 Remove brain”, “step 2 Insert sh*t”, “step 3 Apply bandage” and “step 4 Release to the public”.

 

The Investigating Officer summarised the main findings within his report, in particular, outlining the rationale for reaching his conclusions that, in respect of the complaints received, Councillor Mark Broadhurst had failed to comply with the HTC and CDC Member Codes of Conduct in relation to the following paragraphs of the Code:-

  • Paragraph 1.2 of the Code by failing to treat members of the public, in particular Muslim members of the public, with respect;

  • Paragraph 2.3 of the Code by failing to promote equalities and discriminating unlawfully against people of the Muslim faith;

  • Paragraph 5.1. of the Code by bringing his role as a Councillor into disrepute; and

  • Paragraph 8.2 by failing to cooperate with this Code of Conduct investigation into the complaints made against him.

In the absence of the Subject Member, Councillor Broadhurst being present, Members of the Hearings Sub-Committee were then afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Investigating Officer on the content of his report.

The Investigating Officer was then invited to sum up the complaints, prior to the Sub-Committee reaching its decision on these matters in private.

On the conclusion of this part of the process, in accordance with the Hearings Procedure, all parties, including members of the press and public, with the exception of the Monitoring Officer, the Independent Person and the Clerk were asked to leave the room to allow the Sub-Committee to deliberate in private, in order to determine whether or not there had been breaches of the Code of Conduct and, if so, whether any sanctions should be imposed.  In reaching its conclusions, the Sub-Committee considered the representations and evidence, in consultation with the Independent Person.

All parties were then re-admitted to the meeting and the Chair announced the Sub-Committee’s decision.

Having regard to the report and findings of an Investigation conducted by Neil Concannon (Investigating Officer), the Sub-Committee accepted the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Councillor Broadhurst to comply with paragraphs 1.2, 2.3, 5.1 and 8.2 of the Codes of Conduct adopted by both City of Doncaster Council and Hatfield Town Council in respect of the allegations detailed above for the reasons identified in the Investigating Officer’s report.

Following the Sub-Committee’s deliberations, the Chair read out the following statement on behalf of the Sub-Committee:

“This Sub-Committee unanimously condemns the actions of Councillor Broadhurst.  The comments made by Councillor Broadhurst were clearly racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and highly offensive. As elected Councillors our role is serve all of the residents in our wards regardless of their political beliefs, creed or ethnicity and this is a role which we are proud to uphold as elected members. The actions of Councillor Broadhurst, including his contempt for the investigation process, risk damaging the reputation of this Council and all elected members. In our view, Councillor Broadhurst should have apologised for any offence caused by his appalling social media posts and publicly committed to working on behalf of all residents.  He chose not to do this.  Furthermore, Councillor Broadhurst has failed to cooperate with this investigation or today’s Hearing and that cannot go unsanctioned.  It is our view that he is not fit to hold the role of Deputy Mayor of Hatfield Town Council nor hold a position on that Council’s Personnel Committee and we recommend to Hatfield Town Council that he be removed from both roles.”

RESOLVED that:-

(1)       the Investigating Officer’s findings that there had been a failure by Councillor Mark Broadhurst to comply with Paragraphs 1.2, 2.3, 5.1 and 8.2  of the Code of Conduct adopted by City of Doncaster Council and Hatfield Town Council be accepted; and

(2)       in the circumstances of this case, appropriate sanctions to be imposed upon Councillor Broadhurst be as follows:-

  1. That Councillor Broadhurst be censured and reprimanded for his actions;

  1. That the Sub-Committee’s findings in respect of Councillor Broadhurst conduct be published on City of Doncaster Council’s website and to recommend to Hatfield Town Council that the Sub-Committee’s findings be published on its website;

  1. That the Sub-Committee’s findings be reported to the next meeting of City of Doncaster Council for information;

  1. To recommend to City of Doncaster Council that Councillor Broadhurst not be appointed to any Committee positions or membership of any Outside Body roles for the remainder of his current electoral term;

  1. That the Sub-Committee’s findings be reported to Hatfield Town Council for consideration;

  1. To recommend that Hatfield Town Council remove Councillor Broadhurst from his position as Deputy Mayor;

  1. To recommend that Hatfield Town Council remove Councillor Broadhurst from its Personnel Committee;

  1. To recommend to Hatfield Town Council that Councillor Broadhurst undertakes training at the expense of Hatfield Town Council on Equalities and that upon completion this be reported back to CDC’s Monitoring Officer.

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