Latest news
Parish Councillor Suspended for Four Months
25 March 2010
Astley Village Parish Councillor Rod Fraser was suspended from office for four months today (24 March) after he was found to have breached several parts of the members’ Code of Conduct (the Code).
The suspension of Councillor Fraser follows a Standards for England (SfE) investigation and will begin today.
The Tribunal found that Councillor Fraser had breached the parts of the Code which relate to treating others with respect, bullying, bringing office or authority into disrepute and members’ registration of interests.
Councillor Fraser was found to have breached the Code by making ‘public, unsubstantiated allegations’ about the parish clerk, making ‘false allegations’ about another councillor, and by failing to declare the fact that he was a school governor in the authority’s register of members’ interests.
Dr Robert Chilton, Chair of Standards for England, said: “Councillor Fraser showed a lack of respect for his colleagues, his authority and his office through his actions.
“We welcome the four-month suspension imposed on him by the First-tier Tribunal, which sends out a clear message to members of the public that appropriate action will be taken against members whose ethical standards fall short of expectations.”
For media enquiries, contact the press office on 0161 817 5400 or email press.enquiries@standardsforengland.gov.uk.
Notes for editors
1. The First-tier Tribunal (Local Government Standards in England) is the name of the body which has replaced the Adjudication Panel for England and is a separate body to Standards for England.
Standards for England (SfE), through its Ethical Standards Officers (ESOs), investigate potential breaches of the Code of Conduct but do not determine sanctions to be imposed on members who have breached the Code.
At the end of an investigation, SfE can refer the case to the First-tier Tribunal if the potential breach is sufficiently serious to warrant a form of sanction.
The First-tier Tribunal is an independent judicial tribunal. The Lord Chancellor appoints its members following consultation with the Secretary of State for Local Government
For further information, please visit www.adjudicationpanel.tribunals.gov.uk/
2. To view the Code of Conduct, please visit www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20071159_en_1
3. For media enquiries, please contact the press office on 0161 817 5400 or email press.enquiries@standardsboard.gov.uk
