The leader of Three Rivers District Council, who shocked members of the opposition when she called a fellow councillor a “patronising bastard” has been asked to undergo training.

Liberal Democrat Ann Shaw was heard to whisper the comment to a councillor sitting next to her, before repeating it loudly to Conservative councillor Ralph Sangster, at a meeting on July 20.

Since then, three complaints from Conservative councillors have been received by a standards sub-committee.

However, it found that the “unnecessary and offensive language did not warrant further investigation”, and requested that Councillor Shaw conduct training.

Ann Shaw said the controversial remark after Councillor Sangster asked Councillor Matthew Bedford a question about the structural deficit of the council's finances.

At the time Councillor Shaw said: “My comment was a joke in regard to the unacceptable criticism from the Conservatives which has been blow out of all proportion. If it wasn't a joke I wouldn't have said it twice.

Speaking after the meeting, Conservative opposition leader Chris Hayward said: “I thought her comments were outrageous and appalling, I had to demand that she withdraw the comment.”

Before the committee met, Councillor Shaw made a personal apology to Councillor Sangster, which he accepted.