Full and proper consideration given

Originally published @ 9:56 pm, Fri 12th Feb 2010

The South Derbyshire Conservative Councillors application to vote on a matter on which they have a prejudicial interest has been declined by a meeting of the District Council's Standards Committee.

The Committee voted 7-1, allowing them to speak on the matter but not to vote.

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/politics/Council-s-Tories-banned-votes-land-connected-party-donor/article-1832110-detail/article.html

Despite their members declaring a prejudicial interest, South Derbyshire Conservatives are saying they don't really have one, because all the donations from this particualr donor went to the purposes of the General Election. But it's not clear from any of the evidence submitted to the Electoral Commission that they've ring-fenced finances in this way.

South Derbyshire Conservatives could have been more graceful on this matter. By pointing out the possibility of a prejudicial interest, Labour Councillors saved the Tories from falling into a trap that would have taken some sorting out with the Standards Board of England. And the Standards Committee decision has saved the Council from a risk to their reputation and the possibilities of judicial reviews on decisions that the Tories might have voted on.

Politics in South Derbyshire has been made more transparent.