CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR REPORTED OVER CODE OF CONDUCT BREACH

3.56.22pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd May 2008

The Liberal Democrats have reported Conservative Councillor Matthew Phillips to the Council's Monitoring Officer for breaching the council's Code of Conduct for taking part in the recent 'Call-in' Meeting on Parking Meters.

The Council's Constitution says that no Councillor should scrutinise a decision if they have been involved in a decision, including taking part in a Council Working Party, which recommends a decision to the Elected Mayor. Councillor Matthew Phillips chaired the Transportation Working Party meeting on 4th April, and took part in voting on recommending where the parking meters were to be located. As a result, he should not have been involved in the Overview and Scrutiny 'Call-In' Meeting on Friday 16th May.

Councillor Ruth Pentney said:

"The Council's Constitution is quite strict - even Liberal Democrat Councillors Alan Faulkner and Ian Doggett who voted against parking meters in the Transportation Working Party were excluded from the Overview and Scrutiny 'Call-In' because they were seen as being involved in the decision making process. Having taken advice from the Council's Director of Law, Conservative Councillor Matthew Phillips should not have taken part in the 'Call-in' meeting on parking meters. We have asked for the Director of Law to instigate the necessary procedures, which will probably mean that Councillor Phillips will have to go before the local Standards Committee.

"The Liberal Democrat Council Group have been advised that the 'Call-in' meeting could be held again. However, given the strength of the Conservative whip, which keeps the Conservative backbench Councillors supporting the elected Mayor's policies, this would only delay the inevitable. Also, as the Conservatives have added nearly £20 million to the Council's debt in the last few months, we do not think it right that the Council should incur the costs of another meeting when the Conservatives will just blindly support parking meters anyway."