Recourse to unsubstantiated libellous statements

Question

What recourse is available to parishioners if a councillor makes unsubstantiated libellous statements about them during council meetings and other forums ?

Answer 1

Councillors have no special status in relation to their statements made during council meetings (or at any other time). All the recourse specified by law is therefore available to them. Whether that is a practical course may be another matter. Ultimately, the best sanction on councillors usually comes through elections and rival candidates.

Answer 2

If the libellous statements are being made at meetings, they are acting as a Councillor and should be reported to the Monitoring Officer for going against the code of conduct.  In Forum it is difficult they are saying it in the capacity of a Councillor unless they actually put that in the message, but whilst attending a Council meeting they are most certainly Councillors.