Brent Council's deputy mayor has resigned and apologised for "unequivocally and deliberately offensive" behaviour towards a parking warden who gave her a fine.

And councillor Diana Collymore, who represents Northwick Park ward, has been suspended from the Labour Party after abusing a parking warden who gave her a ticket in London Road, Wembley, on May 20, 2024.

She threatened to report the warden to officials and said she would report him to immigration services, implying he had married someone to remain in the UK.

According to a report to Brent Council's audit and standards advisory committee on September 25, the manager of a civil enforcement officer submitted a complaint on July 24.

After the warden issued a parking contravention notice (PCN) after seeing a car parked on a double yellow line, Cllr Collymore asked why a ticket had been issued, but did not allow the warden to explain why, repeatedly stating she did not require a response from him, the report said.

She repeatedly told the warden she was a councillor, and would report him to council officers.

And she told him he “does not know how to carry out his duties, that she will speak to someone higher in the council and, that she will report him to the immigration services”. 

The complaint also alleged that she said “the officer got married to a woman in order to regularise his [stay] in the UK” implying that the officer got his immigration document through illegal means.

Following the incident, Cllr Collymore contacted council officers to request the PCN be set aside and then lodged an appeal against the warden.

The appeal against the PCN was not upheld but her complaint was partially upheld on the basis that the enforcement officer "did make some inappropriate and unnecessary comments” in his communication with her.

However the warden's complaint was backed up by video evidence from a headcam he was wearing.

On July 24, the council's monitoring officer received an email from Cllr Collymore, asking to apologise to the warden in person. A meeting took place on August 21, at which the warden accepted Cllr Collymore’s apology.

In a written response to the complaint, Cllr Collymore accepted that she parked on a double yellow line displaying her Blue Badge, but did not see any visible parking restrictions.

She said she was "terribly upset" because she believed she was receiving an unfair ticket, and accepted the argument became personal between herself and the warden and "profusely apologised".

Cllr Collymore acknowledged that she had fallen below expected standards of behavior.

The monitoring officer found her comments were "unequivocally and deliberately offensive, disparaging and discriminatory" and her behaviour brought her office into disrepute.

As punishment, a report was given to the committee, and Cllr Collymore was asked to undertake refresher Code of Conduct and equalities training.

A transcript of the video evidence was sent to Labour group leader and council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt so the group can consider its relevance to council positions.

It was also suggested that Cllr Collymore be given information again about appropriate use of her blue badge.

The report says she initially accepted the finding but on September 11 asked for a review, however it was found no information mitigated her conduct and the complaint was upheld.

Cllr Collymore has resigned as deputy mayor as well as from positions she held on committees. She has also been suspended from the Labour Party.

A Brent Council spokesperson said: “Cllr Diana Collymore was found to have breached the council’s Code of Conduct in relation to a parking incident involving a civil enforcement officer.

"Cllr Collymore has accepted that her conduct was unacceptable and has personally apologised to the officer concerned, as well as to the council, for her behaviour.

"Cllr Collymore has resigned as Deputy Mayor and from all committee positions on Brent Council and is undertaking refresher training on the council’s Code of Conduct and equalities policy.”

A Brent Labour Group spokesperson said: “Following a breach of the councillors code of conduct, Cllr Collymore has been suspended, pending Labour Party investigation.

"We unequivocally condemn the conduct displayed during this incident, which falls short of the high standards expected within the Labour Party. We have written to the member of staff to offer our apology on behalf of the entire Labour Group.”

Cllr Collymore has been approached for comment.