Council boss offers personal apology over driveway defecation near Upton-upon-Severn

9:58am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By James Connell

Malvern Hills District Council has disciplined the binman Malvern Hills District Council has disciplined the binman

THE chief executive of a council has offered to apologise in person to a pensioner after a binman defecated on the homeowner's drive.

The man from Ryall, near Upton, said he has so far refused the offer of an apology from the binman, who has been disciplined but not sacked.

The pensioner feels the binman is only apologising at all because he has been told to by his bosses at Malvern Hills District Council rather than because he feels any remorse for fouling his drive on January 17.

He said: "I'm not interested in that kind of apology. It was suggested to him at the disciplinary hearing that it would be better for him to apologise - well, that's not the sort of apology I'm interested in. It’s like telling a two-year-old 'say your sorry'. They don’t mean it. It's just to satisfy mummy and daddy."

Chris Bocock, chief executive at Malvern Hills District Council, said: "As soon as the incident was reported to us by the customer we accepted full responsibility and took immediate action by sending out an operative to make sure the area was cleaned and sanitised.

"The member of staff responsible for the incident has been disciplined following an internal investigation and he also offered to make a personal apology to the customer.

Related links

"We did as an organisation, apologise unreservedly to the complainant for the distress that this incident has caused. However, I understand that he remains frustrated at some aspects of the council’s action and I shall therefore be meeting with him to offer my personal apologies on behalf of the council in an attempt to resolve the situation.

"The issue of a lack of toilet facilities for our staff who are on the road all day is of course a sensitive one particularly in rural areas where there are far fewer amenities. We are reviewing our current practices to see if we can make any improvements."

The story attracted more than 60 comments on your Worcester News website, many expressing disgust at the binman’s behaviour.

Letterman said: "If this act was done by someone from the private sector, they would have been sacked."

The Doosra said: "His behaviour was inexcusable."

But truth must out said: "The incident was reported and the Council took disciplinary action. Is that not enough for some people. What more do they want .....blood!!!"

Comments(17)

sarah and her chickens says...
11:09am Tue 12 Mar 13

Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted Mr. Bocock.
Still does not clarify why leaving the excrement on the drive is not a scalable offense . Accidents happen ,fair enough. There are no toilets in Rhyall . I don t know about that. But with bags,gloves,hand wipes and a shovel on the lorry the crime here is that he left his mess behind.
If he were to break a black sack he would be duty bound to clear up the mess.
I do not understand why the resident has been treated with so little respect.

Report this post »

Respectable says...
11:24am Tue 12 Mar 13

Dear Gawd

sarah and her chickens says.

This is your 17 post on this subject....

I think the county understands your point of view now...

Now I wouldn't go as far as to say "Give It A Rest" or "You are wrong / right"..

But how much more value do you think you can bring to the debate ?

Report this post »

Maggie Would says...
11:28am Tue 12 Mar 13

Respectable, I think you're right, she's being positively anal about the whole sorry episode.

Report this post »

Respectable says...
11:33am Tue 12 Mar 13

Poop comes in many forms.

Involuntary, inappropriate, deep, verbal and written..;-)

Report this post »

lucy41 says...
11:41am Tue 12 Mar 13

Respectable wrote:
Dear Gawd

sarah and her chickens says.

This is your 17 post on this subject....

I think the county understands your point of view now...

Now I wouldn't go as far as to say "Give It A Rest" or "You are wrong / right"..

But how much more value do you think you can bring to the debate ?
Horay!!!! some one is talking sense its getting very boring now.... seems same person is the main Instigator.... seems like a Personal issue she has with man and council...... feeding information...

Report this post »

sarah and her chickens says...
11:56am Tue 12 Mar 13

Yes i do have an issue with this subject. !!! Sorry if that s anal but so is counting my posts !!
Its ok though i am happy to be the butt of your jokes.
This case has worked like a laxative on the subject of how MHDC treat people when they complain !

Report this post »

Andy_R says...
12:15pm Tue 12 Mar 13

We now have 2 quite different, but equally serious issues. The incident itself is horrible and especially inexcusable as the offender made no effort to clean up or apologise at the time. The second problem, which is arguably more important as it affects far more people, is that Malvern District Council are so far out of touch with reality that they think that S****ing on a customer's driveway is not a sackable offence. Any reputable organisation would have terminated the employee immediately and reported them to the Police. Chris Bocock shouldn't be offering an apology, he should be offering his resignation.

Report this post »

Respectable says...
12:15pm Tue 12 Mar 13

sarah and her chickens wrote:
Yes i do have an issue with this subject. !!! Sorry if that s anal but so is counting my posts !!
Its ok though i am happy to be the butt of your jokes.
This case has worked like a laxative on the subject of how MHDC treat people when they complain !
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Could you not "Ring" a Hotline or "Log" onto a Website.. Your could "Crack" up over this alleged "Foul" play.

You may need to escalate to the No 1 or No 2 in the chamber.

Your driving us all Potty..

Report this post »

pinkfluff says...
12:21pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Indeed Respectable, some folk should get over it and move on.

To all the refuse collectors out there, the next time this happens do us all a favour and use a hedge......like the runners do.

Report this post »

sarah and her chickens says...
12:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Respectable wrote:
sarah and her chickens wrote:
Yes i do have an issue with this subject. !!! Sorry if that s anal but so is counting my posts !!
Its ok though i am happy to be the butt of your jokes.
This case has worked like a laxative on the subject of how MHDC treat people when they complain !
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

Could you not "Ring" a Hotline or "Log" onto a Website.. Your could "Crack" up over this alleged "Foul" play.

You may need to escalate to the No 1 or No 2 in the chamber.

Your driving us all Potty..
Well if i am driving you potty just imagine what i am doing to Bocock .
I do hope he takes up my suggestion of kitting the lorries out with poobags,babys wipes and incontinence pants.
Or even potties. Good thinking respectable.
Sorry was i supposed to be offended blah blah

Report this post »

Respectable says...
1:23pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Woopsie... Didn't mean to C**p on.

Sorry to dump and run but Eartha Kitt is on the TV... The Richard The 3rd Saga. Have fun..;-)

Report this post »

jb says...
3:00pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I'm really quite appalled at the fact that the employee has only been 'disciplined' whatever form that took rather than sacked. If this offensive behaviour had been carried out by a postal delivery workerof or example I honestly believe they would have been sacked so why is this person just being disciplined? They brought the council into disrepute as they are employed by them and representing them when out doing the work. If this is the standard of behaviour they are prepared to tolerate within a public service it doesn't refelect at all favourably on senior management.

Report this post »

Andy-Apache says...
4:39pm Tue 12 Mar 13

It's a criminal offence to pee in public. It's a criminal offence to let your dog crap in public. Why is it seemingly not a criminal offence to take a dump in public?

I'm amazed. At the lack of self respect, and respect for others shown buy this guy, and the stance of the council.

On a level playing field (which he'd probably s**t on too!) he'd be immediately dismissed - I know I would be! If it was my drive, he'd get the same as a dog crapping there, a swift and firm kick up the backside.

Report this post »

Landy44 says...
4:59pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I agree with some of the comments above. This council employee should have had his employment terminated and he should have been fined (Dog owners are!), and Chris Bocock having proved he is unfit to hold office should resign.

Council and other public sector employees would do well to remember one thing: You may have a "boss" that you report to, but your FIRST DUTY is to your employer who also happens to be your customer. ie The citizens and taxpayers of this country! This type of behaviour is disgraceful and should not be tolerated.

Report this post »

Major disaster says...
10:33pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I agree this is truly disgusting but why should the council apologise on behalf of this disgusting individual. That is exactly the reason why people behave badly because they can hide behind their employers. Drag them to the victim make them apologise and make good the mistake in this instance clean up his own sh##. We pander to much these days and allow employees to hide behind their employers too much. Individuals should take responsibility for their own actions and not expect others to apologise for them. Name, shame and sack them. Plenty of people would be happy to take their place. Also their are plenty of places for people to go to the loo even in rural areas, don't make excuses

Report this post »

Landy44 says...
9:21am Wed 13 Mar 13

Major disaster wrote:
I agree this is truly disgusting but why should the council apologise on behalf of this disgusting individual. That is exactly the reason why people behave badly because they can hide behind their employers. Drag them to the victim make them apologise and make good the mistake in this instance clean up his own sh##. We pander to much these days and allow employees to hide behind their employers too much. Individuals should take responsibility for their own actions and not expect others to apologise for them. Name, shame and sack them. Plenty of people would be happy to take their place. Also their are plenty of places for people to go to the loo even in rural areas, don't make excuses
I completely and 100% agree, however as a council employee, who committed this disgusting act on council time whilst conducting his duties, the council are also responsible.

A GOOD employer recruits the right people who know how to behave and is competent to conduct their duties in an appropriate fashion. When that breaks down, they discipline the employee and take responsibity to the customer because it happened on their watch.

Both the individual and the way it has been handled by the council make my skin crawl.

Report this post »

Fishy says...
9:23am Wed 13 Mar 13

The behaviour was disgusting, despicable and totally out of order but let's not judge the individual without knowing the whole story. He could have schizophrenia for all we know.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree