To receive questions from members of the public who may wish to ask a general question of the Mayor, Advisory Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee.
Minutes:
(1) Mr. M. Eyre asked did the Council publish a full list of the Elected Member attendees to the full Council meetings so that the public could see which Councillors did not attend?
The Leader thanked Mr. Eyre for his question and advised that attendees and apologies were recorded for every Council meeting, but that a table in the form that he was suggesting was not produced. He was aware that other authorities did publish a table and was happy to look at this.
In a supplementary question Mr. Eyre pointed out he had been told by a few people that their Councillors repeatedly did not attend meetings and whilst it was a high turnout today, this was not always the case. He asked that a table be published at the end of the year to provide an annual record of attendances so that the public could see clearly if they were being represented or not.
The Leader confirmed he was happy to look into this.
(2) Mr. S. Thornton explained that he had been convicted three times by the Standards Committee. On the first occasion he made a complaint that Labour Councillors conspired to "stitch him up". He further complained that Labour Councillors lied in their statements in all three cases and asked why were his complaints not investigated?
The Leader was informed by the Legal Department that on the 23rd February, 2015, a Standards Hearing Panel decided that Parish Councillor Thornton had assaulted a member of the public in April, 2013, by slapping them across the face after an annual parish meeting. The Panel decided this constituted a breach of the Code of Conduct of Councillors and found Parish Councillor Thornton had not treated the member of the public with respect and was in direct contravention of the Code.
The Panel were also satisfied that Mr. Thornton’s aggressive behaviour at the annual parish meeting brought the office of parish councillor into disrepute.
On the 19th August, 2015 a Standards Panel Hearing found Parish Councillor Thornton had breached the Code of Conduct at an event on the 9th July, 2014 where he called a fellow councillor corrupt and repeated the accusation on the 6th August, 2014. On the 17th June, 2014 he disclosed confidential information provided in confidence at a private meeting.
Parish Councillor Thornton was also advised that should he wish to make such an allegation, it would be considered by the hearing panel, as this went to the credibility of the witnesses in the case. However, Parish Councillor Thornton did not attend the hearing to put forward these allegations. Neither did he provide any further information which would substantiate allegations of collusion.
In relation to the second and third investigations, Parish Councillor Thornton, would not engage with the investigation by either meeting the investigating officer or providing a statement for the investigation.
The Leader understood Parish Councillor Thornton did refer to the witnesses as liars in correspondence, but did not provide any specific information to substantiate such allegations. Such responses to the allegations that he made in correspondence, did not amount to a denial of the alleged acts or an attempt to justify them. Again Parish Councillor Thornton could have attended at the hearing to defend himself against the allegations made and also ask the witnesses questions and make submissions. However, he chose not to do so.
In a supplementary question, Parish Councillor Thornton referred to a “cover up” taking place as he had asked to meet with Commissioner Manzie, who declined. A meeting was also requested with Commissioner Sir Derek Myers, who also declined. He asked, therefore, who was going to take responsibility for the cover up, the Leader of the Council or Commissioner Sir Derek Myers. He had been completely stitched up by Labour Members of this Council and no-one was willing to listen to his side of the story.
The Leader was unable to speak on behalf of the Commissioners, but believed the allegations made against Parish Councillor Thornton to be credible.