Councillor Chris Singleton was reprimanded for his behaviour in February last year, just months before he was re-elected in May 2014.

The Conservative representative of Emmbrook ward was hauled before the Independent Standards Committee of Wokingham Borough Council accused of humiliating and intimidating behaviour towards a member of the public.

Rivals have called for him to resign because of the reprimand.

The charge related to a clash on February 23 last year, when Mr Singleton was deputy mayor of the borough.

The result of the committee hearing on December 18 last year was brought before the full council on Thursday, February 19.

The verdict reads: “The panel heard sufficient evidence that Councillor Singleton on 23 February, 2014 behaved in a way which was intimidating and humiliating, both elements of the definition of ‘bullying’ as described in ‘The Code of Conduct Guide for Members May 2007’ page nine.

“The panel therefore found that Councillor Singleton breached para 9.2.5.2 which says that ‘You must not b) Bully any person’.” The verdict was signed by Rob Stanton, Conservative councillor for Finchampstead North, Ken Miall, Conservative councillor for Maiden Erlegh and Beth Rowland, Liberal Democrat councillor for South Lake.

Cllr Singleton still sits on the Licensing and Appeals Committee and the Planning Committee.

He was re-elected as a councillor in May by a slim majority of 11 votes when 18 of his colleagues were fighting for seats on Wokingham Borough Council. He is next up for re-election in 2018.

Clive Jones, the Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Wokingham, has called for him to resign. He said: “This is clearly something that has concerned the Conservative ruling group on the council because Cllr Singleton was meant to be the borough mayor this year. Instead of this happening Cllr UllaKarin Clarke stayed for an extra year at short notice.

“I think he should be seriously considering his position and his leader, Councillor Keith Baker, should be considering if he wants him to remain on the council.” Keith Baker, leader of the council, said that the independent committee — which is made up of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and non-affiliated individuals — removes any political bias from the complaints.

He said: “The committee does have much more power. They can suspend a councillor and I would expect them to do that if the complaint was serious enough.

“If they had suspended the councillor then that’s a time I would consider the future of that individual.” Andrew Moulton, head of Governance and Improvement Services, said: “A hearings panel met on 16 December to examine this. It determined Cllr Singleton had failed to follow the code of conduct.” Mr Singleton said that the decision was being investigated. He said: “ I think it’s best if I don’t say anything because it would jeopardise further discussions.”