The Standards Board was established to help root out dodgy doings in town halls. In their own words:“Confidence in local democracy is a cornerstone of our way of life. It can only be achieved when elected and co-opted members of local authorities are seen to live up to the high standards the public has a right to expect from them.” Complaints to the Standards Board are rarely about human incompetence, or pocketing the odd council ballpoint. It is always serious stuff:

“ unlawfully discriminating against someone

….failing to treat people with respect

….doing something to prevent those who work for the authority from being unbiased

….revealing information given in confidence, or stopping someone getting information they are entitled to by law

….damaging the reputation of their office or authority

….using their position improperly, to their own or someone else's advantage or disadvantage

….misusing their authority's resources

….allowing their authority's resources to be misused for the activities of political party

….failing to report another member's misconduct to us

….failing to register financial or other interests

….failing to reveal a personal interest at a meeting;

….making a decision where they have an interest that is so significant that it is likely to affect their judgement

….failing to register gifts or hospitality worth over £25”

 

In 2007 the Standards Board suddently received a rash of complaints against the then deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Paul Buchanan.

There were 50 different allegations. And they all came from the poisoned pen of the Chief Executive, Alan Jones.

 

What in the name of SouthWest One was going on?

Little local disagreements between top public servants and ambitious politicians usually get sorted out quietly,

away from the glare of publicity.

So this must have been outright war.

Mr Jones and his complaints about Mr Buchanan first went to Cathy Bakewell (who later quit as leader of the council.

 just after the local elections in May 2007)

She invited the Liberal Democrat group to consider the allegations. Surprise, surprise - Mr Buchanan was given a squeaky clean bill of health by his colleagues!

 At which point Jones went nuclear and called in the Standards Board.

 

 

All the major allegations were thrown out by the Standards Board within days.

But it has taken almost two years to conclude the matter

because Jones used the system to silence his severest critic.

Jones rejected the Standards Board early conclusions and bunged in a handful of extra complaints against Buchanan. One of these "allegations" really takes the biscuit: Mr B is accused of sending an e-mail to a member of staff which contained"CAPITAL LETTERS"!

 

However the real absurdity is that Jones (the accuser) could make as many accusations as he liked and was never subjected to any form of cross examination. Indeed All Council Officers are completely immune from the power of the Standards Board.

 

 

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