A councillor has been rapped for a sexist quip about a colleague buying his wife a gym membership for Christmas – a better choice than "an iron and ironing board combination".
Derek Ross, an independent member of Moray Council, has been reminded of his responsibilities after a standards commission investigation ruled his language was inappropriate, disrespectful and gender-based.
Coun Ross made the comment in November 2020, during a discussion on Moray's sport and leisure scheme.
He said: "Just to say to Councillor (Tim) Eagle, the Fit Life card for Christmas is a very good gift for his wife. And possibly a lot better than the iron and ironing board combination he got her last year."
A fellow councillor hit out at the meeting, saying: " Gender-based jokes are not appropriate on a public forum. This is not the 1950s."
Coun Ross refused to apologise at the time but later "expressed regret for any offence caused" and accepted his comment was "perhaps unfortunate and ill-judged”.
The standards commission investigated a complaint against the Speyside and Glenlivet councillor.
Acting commissioner for ethical standards Ian Bruce ruled Mr Ross's joke "inappropriate, disrespectful and gender-based".
At the meeting, Wlgin North councillor Paula Coy criticised the joke, saying: "I would just like to distance myself from the sexist joke made earlier on.
"Gender-based jokes are not appropriate on a public forum. They are not representative of Moray Council. They are not appropriate anywhere. This is not the 1950s."
Mr Bruce said: "Stereotypes surrounding gender often appear in jocular discourse.
"Or to use the popular term banter' and regardless of intent can cause offence or lead to others feeling belittled.
Asked to apologise by council leader Graham Leadbitter Mr Ross did not.
The report notes he later "expressed regret for any offence caused" and accepted his comment was "perhaps unfortunate and ill-judged".
Asked if he accepted the commission's findings, he said he had "nothing further to add".
This is not the first time Moray councillors have come under scrutiny.
In October, the council's head of governance Alasdair McEachan said he would run a training session on their code of conduct as complaints rose.
Mr McEachan categorised the problems: Councillors lacking respect for each other; showing a lack of respect for officers; language on social media; inappropriate use of council facilities.
Author and journalist James Millar is co-author of The Gender Agenda, a book on tackling ingrained gender stereotypes.
He said: "Councillor Ross's joke' may seem like banter but the standards commission are right to take it seriously.
"Locker room talk shouldn't happen anywhere and it certainly has no place in a public forum.
"The standards commission process may have come to an end but I really hope that councillor Ross will take the opportunity to understand why some people found his comments offensive.
"While it may seem a small thing to him it'd be good if he could conceive how his comments form part of a landscape that throws up obstacles for women. And particularly women in public life."
The standards commission for Scotland is an independent body that focuses on ethical standards in public life.
It decided not move to a formal hearing but said: "The respondent should be reminded of the importance of adhering to the respect provisions in the code."
A council spokeswoman added: "Councillors are reminded of their obligations and responsibilities."
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