BALLOON COMPLAINT TAKEN UP WITH MINISTER

2.25.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Sep 2007

The formal complaint tabled by Cllr Jenny Faulkner about the way the planning application for the proposed balloon has been handled, is now being taken up by MP Adrian Sanders with the Local Government Minister.

The complaint has previously gone to the Standards Board for England and the Local Government Ombudsman, but the complaint does not fall under their remit.

Councillor Jenny Faulkner said: " It appears that my complaint, which included allegations of 'whipping' of Conservative Councillors, falls through a loophole. The Standards Board suggested that the Local Government Ombudsman should deal with it. The Ombudsman contacted me to say that it can only deal with complaints that affect individuals - so there was nowhere for my complaint to be dealt with. I have therefore written to Adrian Sanders MP asking him to take the matter up with the Minister."

Adrian Sanders MP said: "The allegations in the complaint are very serious, and I have written to the Local Government Minister asking for her comments."