A DISGRACED ex-mayor has controversially been given an award for outstanding service to the town a decade after he was banned from local government and ordered to pay £33,000 for sexual discrimination and victimisation of the town clerk.

Tony Prior, who was a town councillor for 32 years and served as mayor twice, was one of five residents to pick up awards at Chard’s Annual Parish Meeting last Tuesday.

The evening also saw the current mayor, Cllr Dave Bulmer, hand out grants to worthy community groups from across the town.

In 2006, Mr Prior was banned from local government for nine months after breaking the town council’s code of conduct, before being ordered to pay £33,697 in compensation to town clerk Sally Bing for sexual discrimination and victimisation by an employment tribunal in Exeter.

Chard Town Council was also called to pay out £25,000 in compensation to Mrs Bing. Of that sum, £3,000 was paid out by an insurance company with the town having to pick up the rest of the bill.

Four years after his local government ban Mr Prior was re-elected as town councillor representing the Crimchard ward, but has since stood down.

One Chard resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I am surprised that the mayor has awarded Tony Prior an outstanding citizen award when it was only about 10 years ago that Mr Prior was banned from local government after confessing in court to ‘experiencing a sexual thrill when he was near his town clerk’.

“This case led to the tax payer of Chard having to pay out £25,000 in compensation to the town clerk, money which could have been better spent on local services.

"I do not understand what Cllr Dave Bulmer, mayor of Chard, was thinking when giving this award. Surely he must realise how this must look to residents of Chard? Is the mayor, by giving this award, saying that this behaviour is acceptable?"

Cllr Bulmer said: “There is a subcommittee that considered the nomination. They approved it. It has gone through the proper process.

“The nominations were considered by a panel on the council and this has the approval of the panel.

“The basis of the nomination was work Tony Prior has done outside the council, and continues to do today and even as we speak. His voluntary work is not associated with the council.

“Tony Prior did actually get re-elected after all this was done and dusted.”

Mr Prior added: “I accepted the award for 35 years voluntary work in Chard.

“I served the Citizens Advice Bureau for 20 years with nine as chairman, and Chard Museum for many years with 10 years as treasurer and two as chairman.

“Crowshute House was my initiative and I have served as chairman and/or finance officer for 19 years in total.

“I am treasurer of the League of Friends of Chard Hospital, and I started and ran the Chard Christmas Fayre for voluntary organisations for 25 years. The award has nothing to do with my 32 years of service as a town councillor until 2015.”

Mr Prior has also been involved in Chard Disabled Action Group, Chard Theatre Society, Chard Operatic Society, and Chard Concert Brass.