The Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, David Pugh, is to be investigated for six alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct for Elected Members.
A complaint submitted by three Isle of Wight County Councillors has been assessed by the Assessment Sub-Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee of the Isle of Wight Council. The Sub-Committee has found there are grounds to investigate Councillor Pugh in respect of the following allegations:
- Bullying
- Intimidation
- Failing to treat others with respect
- Compromising the impartiality of Council employees
- Improperly obtaining an advantage
- Improperly using Council resources for political purposes.
The allegations arise out of behaviour which took place during the Valentine Ball held by the Chairman of the Council at Cowes Yacht Haven on February 12, 2010 and subsequent attempts by Councillor Pugh to use the Council’s Communications Department to prevent publicity in respect of an incident which occurred outside the Ball, which has been ruled to have taken place when Councillor Pugh was acting in a personal capacity.
David-Pugh
The complaint which led to this investigation was brought by three Isle of Wight Councillors, Jonathan Bacon, Chris Welsford and Geoff Lumley, in response to public disquiet about what occurred at the Ball and as a result of information about attempts by Councillor Pugh to cover-up what occurred by using public resources when he had declared that he regarded his behaviour as being a private matter. Requests for Councillor Pugh to submit himself for investigation were rejected leading to the complaint being submitted.
Councillor Bacon said “We are pleased that these matters are to be investigated. These are serious allegations, particularly those concerning misuse of Council resources for personal reasons, and we feel that a full investigation is appropriate due to the serious impact on public confidence in the Council and Councillors that such behaviour has. We feel it is appropriate that the investigation should take place off the Island due to the seriousness of the allegations and the parties involved, in order to ensure that a proper independent consideration of the issues and evidence can take place. We are disappointed that it appears that the proposed investigation is to be conducted ‘in-house’ and will be asking whether this point should be reconsidered.”
The matters that were recommended for referral for investigation in the Decision Notice issued by the Assessment Sub Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee were as follows:
REFERRAL FOR INVESTIGATION
In accordance with Section 57A(2) of the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Assessment Sub Committee of the Ethical Standards Committee decided to refer the allegations below to the monitoring officer for investigation.
Potential breaches of the Code of Conduct identified
We have identified below the paragraphs of the Code of Conduct which may apply to the alleged conduct.
- Paragraph 3(1) – You must treat others with respect (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table).
- Paragraph 3(2)(b) – You must not bully any person. (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table).
- Paragraph 3(2)(c) – You must not intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is likely to be a complainant or witness (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the Ball at the table)
- Paragraph 3(2)(d) – You must not do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, your authority. (Rachael Bushby and the Isle of Wight Council Communications Department).
- Paragraph 6(a) – You must not use or attempt to use your position as a member improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person, an advantage or disadvantage. (Isle of Wight Council Communications Department).
- Paragraph 6(b)(ii) – You must when using or authorising the use by others of
the resources of your authority ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political purposes. (Isle of Wight Council Communications Department).
