Labour leader’s rap for second breach of code of conduct (From Bury Times)

Labour leader’s rap for second breach of code of conduct

9:00am Friday 28th January 2011 in News

BURY’S Labour leader has been reprimanded after breaching the council’s code of conduct for a second time.

Councillor Mike Connolly failed to declare an interest when he introduced a motion about Bury Council employees’ pay.

It happened just weeks after an investigation found he had declared the wrong type of interest at another meeting.

On Monday, a panel of five said Cllr Connolly should make a formal apology at the next full council meeting at Bury Town Hall on March 30.

Cllr Connolly, who represents the East ward, said: “I think I’ve had a very fair hearing. It was a genuine mistake and I have learned my lesson. It has been a very difficult 12 months and I’m glad now that it’s coming to an end and I can get on with my job serving the people of Bury.”

Cllr Connolly appeared before the council’s standards committee to answer allegations made by Conservative councillor Catherine Berry.

She alleged he did not withdraw from a full council meeting on February 3, 2010, during discussions of a motion relating to employees’ pay.

Mike Dudfield, investigating officer, said Cllr Connolly should have left the meeting because his partner is employed by the council.

Just weeks later, Cllr Connolly was suspended following investigations into allegations he breached the code at meetings in January and February 2009.

He had declared a personal, rather than prejudicial, interest in council debates about a review of residential accommodation in the borough. His partner works at a day centre for people with learning difficulties. Cllr Connolly was initially suspended for three months but this was reduced to one month after an appeal.

At Monday night’s meeting, solicitor Frances Randle said Cllr Connolly only became aware that he could have an interest halfway through the meeting.

She said as soon as the monitoring officer pointed it out to him, Cllr Connolly immediately removed himself from the discussions.

Mrs Randle said the motion was a debate of a national pay freeze, not an appeal to Bury Council to increase pay, therefore the link was “remote.”

Cllr Connolly, who has been a council member since 1994, said: “It never crossed my mind that I had an interest because it was far too remote to my partner. I was absolutely stunned when I found out and my stomach churned because I’d just had the report from the previous case. The last thing I wanted was another breach of the code.”

Chairman of the panel, Ken Wainwright, said the panel found Cllr Connolly should have declared a personal interest but it was not prejudicial.