The First-tier Tribunal's Decision on the Conduct of Councillor Andy Sutton
22 January 2010
Following a Standards for England (SfE) investigation, Councillor Andy Sutton has been found to have breached several parts of the members’ Code of Conduct by the Adjudication Panel for England (APE), now known as the First-tier Tribunal (Local Government Standards in England).
The First-tier Tribunal found that Councillor Sutton failed to comply with the Code of Conduct by:
- Failing to declare an interest in a planning application and failing to withdraw from a meeting of the Planning Committee when that application (in which he had a prejudicial interest) was under consideration.
- Seeking improperly (because he had a prejudicial interest in the matter) to influence a decision in the matter by his contact with a senior planning officer. A later conversation with a different officer was regarded as being likely to compromise the impartiality of that officer.
- Bringing his office as Leader of the Council, and the council itself, into disrepute.
The sanction imposed on Councillor Sutton is suspension from office for six months, commencing on 1 February 2010
The Tribunal has made recommendations to the Isle of Wight Council that further training on the Code, focusing particularly on personal and prejudicial interests and interaction between members and officers, should be provided for members.
Standards for England welcome the Tribunal’s decision, which demonstrates to the public that councillors whose ethical conduct falls so far short of the standard they expect of them, can be brought to account.
Ends.
For media enquiries, contact the press office on 0161 817 5400 or email press.enquiries@standardsforengland.gov.uk.
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