Taxi Driver Online

June 20, 2007 Wednesday

Councillors face standards hearings

Thurrock Gazette

TWO Thurrock councillors are in the firing line after being accused of breaking its code of conduct.

Conservatives Garry Hague and John Cowell will face hearings by the Council's Standards Committee over differing offences.

Cabinet member councillor Hague has been reported for expressing his views over a planning application for Tudor Court Primary School which is in his Chafford and North Stifford ward.

There are strict regulations governing what councillors can and can't say if they have a personal interest, which could mean just living near to a development.

He confirmed he was facing a hearing, but said he believed he had done nothing wrong, having spoken at a meeting in the interests of the residents he represents, having been asked to put their viewpoint.

Councillor Cowell, who represents Aveley and Uplands, is alleged to have disclosed details of a taxi driver's previous criminal convictions to her employers when they queried why her cab licence had been revoked.

Council chief executive Angie Ridgwell, said: "The Standards Board for England has referred to the monitoring officer of Thurrock Council two allegations of failures to comply with the Council's code of conduct regarding two separate individual councillors.

"Following a local investigation, the monitoring officer has referred both allegations for hearing and determination by the Council's standards committee. The dates for these hearings are yet to be set."
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