Ex-mayor banned from pubs given drinks licencing roleTory Gosport Borough councillor Wayne Ronayne, 54, was handed a six-month Pub Watch ban following alcohol-fuelled celebrations A former mayor who was barred from every pub in his town just hours after being sworn in has a new role - on the licensing board.
Tory Gosport Borough councillor Wayne Ronayne, 54, was handed a six-month Pub Watch ban following the alcohol-fuelled celebrations.
The ban means the former Royal Navy Warrant Officer is now barred from a total of 36 pubs and clubs in the town.
He was out celebrating with his partner Paula Carter, also 54, four hours after receiving the news he would be the town's mayor.
But the boozy party allegedly refused to leave The Star Pub in Gosport, Hants, when asked by bar staff, who eventually called police.
They were then refused entry to another bar and the pair were handed a six-month ban for their behaviour.
But landlords in the town have today criticised the council after he was put on the committee which makes decisions on pub licenses.
Phil Cox, a landlord and chairman of Pub Watch in Gosport, said the new role is a potential conflict of interest.
He said: "How is he in a position to judge if someone is a fit and proper person?
"We have great concerns with it. I don't think he's in a position to sit on any licence that's a Pub Watch member.
"He's still writing to us now complaining about it."
Tory council leader Mark Hook and licensing board chairman Roger Allen have defended the move and said Cllr Ronayne will be competent and impartial on the board.
Cllr Ronayne quit as mayor 40 days after his inauguration following the ban over an incident in Wetherspoon's pub The Star on the day he took office.
Liberal Democrat opposition leader, Cllr Peter Chegwyn, said: "It is totally wrong for this man to be on the board.
"It is really snubbing Pub Watch and the Gosport public.
"There are plenty of other council boards he could serve on."
The licensing board is made up of 12 councillors, plus the new mayor Cllr Keith Gill and council leader Cllr Hook.
Members vote on reports about pub and private hire licenses if they are deemed too controversial for council officers to decide on themselves.
Arthur Caraccio, owner of Nelsons Bar and Pub Watch member, said it was a ridiculous decision.
The mayoress Paula Carter was given a year-long pub ban after attempting to go to his bar.
He said: "It's a joke. The problem will be if I have a licence issue and I'm up.
"Is he going to be impartial? He'd have to recuse himself."
Cllr Hook defended his decision to put Cllr Ronayne on the licensing board.
He said: "This is just another example of Pub Watch and opposition councillors having a witch hunt against Wayne.
"Wayne is a considerable councillor who's taken his punishment. He has my full support and I'm appalled they'd think otherwise."
He added it is rare for the board to look at pub licenses - the last was in 2012.
If a pub issue did come up Cllr Ronayne could declare an interest and therefore not vote.
Cllr Allen added: "If there are circumstances or interests that may prejudice the impartiality of a councillor then he or she should declare such interests."
Cllr Ronayne denies any wrongdoing. He appealed the ban in July but it was unanimously rejected.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... -role.html
Login
Register
FAQ
Muppets
