by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
A Weymouth councillor has been ordered to make a written apology after breaching Dorset Council’s code of conduct.
Councillor Alex Fuhrmann was found to have failed to treat two fellow councillors with respect following a complaint about his use of social media and private messaging.
The complaint against the Lib Dem councillor for Westham was made by Conservative councillors Jane Somper, Laura Beddow and Andrew Parry and supported by six other councillors.
It related to comments made on social media and private messages sent on 18 December 2024, which allegedly breached the council’s code of conduct.
The complainants alleged breaches of the requirement for councillors to treat others with respect and not to bully, harass or discriminate.
The complaint was investigated by council solicitor and was heard by a sub-committee comprising Councillors Gary Suttle (chair), Andy Todd and Neil Eysenck on 25 February 2026.
Councillor Fuhrmann did not attend the hearing, and the panel decided to proceed in his absence.
After considering the investigation report the sub-committee upheld part of the complaint. Members found that Councillor Fuhrmann breached the code of conduct by failing to treat Councillors Somper and Beddow with respect.
The panel did not uphold allegations that the councillor’s conduct amounted to bullying, harassment or discrimination.
As a result, the sub-committee ordered Councillor Fuhrmann to make a written apology to Councillors Somper and Beddow. The council’s monitoring officer has also been instructed to arrange further training for him, specifically covering the councillor code of conduct and the use of social media by councillors.
There is no right of appeal under the council’s complaint process.
This week’s full council meeting will be told of the outcome, but the decision itself is not open to debate or comment.
The decision has been formally recorded in the hearing minutes and a decision notice, both of which have been sent to Councillor Fuhrmann and published on the council’s website alongside a version of the investigation report.
Cllr Beddow, who represents West Purbeck, said on Monday that she had received an apology: “Cllr Fuhrmann has today apologised which I’m grateful for, and that’s an end of the matter for me.”
She declined to say what the comments involved.
