STANDARDS COMMITTEE REJECTS CONDUCT COMPLAINT (Bracknell Liberal Democrats)

Bracknell Liberal Democrats <info@bracknelllibdems.org.uk>

STANDARDS COMMITTEE REJECTS CONDUCT COMPLAINT

April 6, 2010 5:30 PM

No action to be taken against Bracknell Forest Borough councillor

On 29 March 2010 a Referrals Sub-Committee of Bracknell Forest Council's Standards Committee considered a complaint by Bracknell Liberal Democrats about the conduct of Cllr Denise Whitbread, a Member of the Council.

Cllr Whitbread had been found guilty by the General Teaching Council of England (GTC) of unacceptable professional misconduct, following her dismissal from Holyport Cof E Primary School in 2008 for receiving social security benefits to which she was not entitled.

Bracknell Liberal Democrats had complained that Cllr Whitbread's conduct should be investigated by the Council because it breached the Members' Code of Conduct and other official guidance, which required members to avoid situations where their honesty and integrity could be called into question and where their conduct could bring the council into disrepute.

The Sub-Committee dismissed the complaint on the grounds that her conduct did not fall within the scope of the Code of Conduct, which was only concerned with her duties as a Member of the Council.

Commenting on the Sub-Committee's decision, Ray Earwicker, Lib Dem PPC for Bracknell, said 'it was outrageous that the Code of Conduct had been interpreted in this way. Elected representatives were also accountable to those that elected them and the community as a whole. Cllr Whitbread's action clearly served to undermine the confidence and trust that was placed in her when she was elected to serve the residents of Wildridings and Central in 2007.

In the wake of the Parliamentary expenses scandal it was essential that elected representatives at every level should seek to regain the support of the public and if existing legislation in this area was either inadequate or unclear, it should be amended as soon as possible. An appeal against the decision was under consideration.'