Taxi Driver Online

Now here's a guy who not only sat on the Housing committee but was also a member of the Labour Party council Executive.

Needless to say corruption got the better of this upstanding representative of the labour party.

He was convicted of plotting to obtain over 8 grand in housing benefit and his co defendant Elaine Skelly a one time prospective labour Candidate for the local council ward where O'Connor served, also pleaded guilty to the same charges.

Do we really need these political misfits to administer Taxi licensing?

__________________________

Manchester Evening News

March 29, 2001

Councillor quits after fraud claim

A HIGH-flying Labour councillor has resigned from Manchester city council after allegations of housing benefit fraud.

Andy Harland, who represented Beswick and Clayton for over three years and served on the city's "executive committee, quit at the weekend. He was not due for re-election until 2002. Council leader Richard Leese said: My understanding is that it would appear he allegedly failed to declare a portion of income that relates to a housing benefit claim. Whether by oversight or any other reason I am not in a position to comment.''

Mr Harland had been tipped for high office after his work helping to regenerate Manchester's markets in collaboration with overseas management company Groupe Geraud. Mr Harland was elected in May 1998 and, if he had not resigned, would have had to stand for election again in May next year.

His resignation comes nine months after Newton Heath councillor Damien O'Connor was found guilty of housing benefit fraud. Colleagues are keen to stress his case does not parallel that of shamed Mr O'Connor, who netted over GBP 8,000 of public money in a housing scam.

He refused to resign from the council even after pleading guilty to housing fraud in court. Mr O'Connor escaped jail after a judge told him that he was a genuinely good man and was given a community service order at Manchester Crown Court.

No criminal proceedings are being taken against Mr Harland. Coun Leese added: To lose someone who made a real contribution to Beswick and Clayton is very disappointing, but he recognised the standards councillors are expected to meet. At least in this respect he behaved in an honourable way.''

Mr Harland's now vacant marginal seat will be closely contested by Labour and the Liberal Democrats in a by-election planned for May 3. It is now divided equally between the two parties.

Councillors Mike Carmody, Labour, and Mark Clayton, Lib Dem, will be holding advice bureaux in the coming days with a new election agenda. Coun Clayton said: It was very sudden and unexpected that he resigned. It is obviously very unfortunate for the people of his ward that he abandoned them in mid-term. We will be fighting hard to regain his seat.''

Manchester City Council stripped Mr Harland's photograph and personal details from its website immediately after his resignation. He was was not available for comment.
______________________________

Manchester Evening News

September 30, 2000

Fraud-plot councillor's new shame

SHAMED Manchester councillor Damien O'Connor faces a reprimand and being disowned by the council because of his housing benefits fraud. He was found guilty of four separate breaches of the councillors' National Code of Conduct at a unique hearing of the council's standards committee, which has never been called to meet before.


Next Wednesday's full meeting of the council will be asked to endorse their recommendations that he should be thrown off two school's governing bodies and barred from serving on committees or representing the authority on any other bodies until the end of his term of election in 2003. Coun O'Connor admitted to the committee that he had committed about 50 offences - one each time he wrongly accepted excess housing benefit over a two-year period.

Four constituents from his Newton Heath Ward spoke of his dedication and hard work as a local councillor. But Lord Mayor, Coun Hugh Barratt,chairing the hearing, said the committee said O'Connor's behaviour had been exceptionally serious and totally unacceptable.

Members should not be above the law,'' he said.

Coun O'Connor and partner Elaine Skelly pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court in June to conspiring to obtain GBP 8,800 in housing benefit by deception. He was sentenced to 240 hours' community service.
_______________________________


A leading lib dem councillor named Audrey Jones said at the time.

Liberal Democrat coun Audrey Jones said councillors must be seen to be above reproach at all times. She said it was not the council's role to try Coun O'Connor for a second time, but said it must be made clear his conduct was incompatible with his role as a councillor.

She said it had affected the reputation of the council and the reputation of the party he represented.
_____________________

I find that a little sanctimonious considering councillors often inflict secondary punishments on Taxi drivers without giving it a second thought.

Regards

JD

_________________
Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.