Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch has dismissed the conduct investigation triggered by his own chief executive as a "shambles" and a "waste of time and money".

Cllr Finch told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that ordinary people would think it "a joke" that a conduct case would progress on the basis of an investigator finding that an email alone was not an appropriate form of communication.

It relates to a recent hearing where Cllr Finch challenged the verdict of independent solicitor Claire Ward of Anthony Collins LLP. She ruled that the leader had breached the county's code of conduct by failing to engage in person with chief executive Monica Fogarty over whether or not to take down the Pride flag before the end of Pride month in June 2025.

Ms Fogarty's refusal made national headlines, her email ending up being published by the Telegraph with criticism from senior national Reform figures, including party leader Nigel Farage, quickly sprawling across social media.

She filed a complaint through the council which referenced the onslaught she suffered as a result but Ms Ward found that Cllr Finch could not be held responsible for that based on the available evidence, only the element where he had failed to engage beyond the email trail as suggested by Ms Fogarty.

Ms Ward's view split opinion. In the absence of specific guidance on appropriate engagement, Cllr Yousef Dahmash and Cllr John Waine felt Cllr Finch's choices could not constitute a breach and reversed the breach.

However, independent person Ray Tomkinson, there to advise the panel of councillors ahead of reaching their verdict, and panel member Cllr Richard Dickson highlighted the potential for more flashpoints in the future. They both advocated upholding the breach.

In his closing speech at the hearing, Mr Tomkinson described himself "concerned" that Cllr Finch had been "unable to indicate" what actions he had taken to improve relations with Ms Fogarty since.

When asked about that, Cllr Finch insisted the email was meaningful engagement and told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I have not changed as a person. I still agree with everything I've done, everything I've said.

"Let's be honest, is an email an appropriate form of communication? Thousands of pounds was spent on investigating that. What a waste of time and money."

He described himself as "very disappointed in the investigation and the evidence that they didn't have", reiterating concerns that Cllr Dahmash had over an email sent by Ms Fogarty, suggesting a face-to-face discussion with Cllr Finch, was not included in the evidence bundle at the hearing. Ms Ward said on the day that it was not included as those facts were not disputed.

"It felt a bit like a shambles," argued Cllr Finch.

"I remember she (Ms Ward) was saying about the social media stuff (during the hearing), I said that was completely irrelevant but she brought it back to it. She didn't have a clue.

"I was quite shocked that the investigation I had, when it came to the actual hearing, was only down to whether an email is an appropriate form of communication. I sat there thinking the people would think it was a joke."

Cllr Finch did not directly answer whether he would have engaged in-person on the flag issue given his time again but said there had been "no face-to-face conversation" with the chief executive Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council where he is also leader.

"Why? Because we work together on it," said Cllr Finch.

"We agree that the council is there to serve the public, not fantasy projects, Progress Pride and political organisations.

"Monica has a different view on that, that the Progress Pride flag should fly. It shouldn't, clearly it is a political symbol and that shouldn't be on a council building.

"It is the same situation. One non-elected bureaucrat said no to the leader of the council and the chief executive of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council said 'don't worry, let's work together on it' – different approach.

"They shouldn't just look at me, they should look at the people who are emailing back. The email trail (with Ms Fogarty) was fine, that's why I was comfortable. I knew what I said was right.

"It was down to the committee whether I breached the code and even if I did, it is not down to them. They can't kick me out, it is down to the public."

Cllr Finch objected to the suggestion that Ms Fogarty had asked for a face-to-face meeting, doubling down on his view that she had only suggested it.

"I wanted an email trail," he added.

"If I get struck down tomorrow, the public can easily FOI it (submit a freedom of information request) and say 'George did fight for us, George did want to change the way it was done'.

"If it is a face-to-face meeting, remember this was once an officer-led organisation. Things change very quickly in a face-to-face meeting. When it is in an email, they are bang to rights because it is there."

Warwickshire County Council and Anthony Collins LLP have been approached for comment.