Political rivals report councillor to the police after council meeting

A CALDERDALE councillor is being reported to the police by political rivals for not declaring a pecuniary interest before starting to speak on an amendment that he was proposing.

Calderdale Council Conservative councillor Jacob Cook (Greetland and Stainland) had just started proposing an amendment to a joint LabourLiberal Democrat motion on home insulation and fuel poverty when Liberal Democrat group leader Coun James Baker raised a point of order to halt proceedings.

The Conservative amendment urged the council to set up a home insulation project under an existing Government scheme and to work with “energy suppliers and local businesses” to insulate properties.

Coun Cook said he had worked in insulation for the last eight years and knew about insulating homes.

But Coun Baker said Coun Cook’s involvement breached the 2011 Localism Act.

Coun Cook said he did have a company that fits insulation, but said: “We’ve never actually had a contract with Calderdale Council and will never be seeking such a contract in the future either.”

Mayor of Calderdale, Coun Chris Pillai (Con, Rastrick), who was chairing the meeting, reminded Coun Cook of the early item on the agenda reminding councillors to declare any interests and asked: “Have you any interest to declare?”

The Mayor agreed to adjourn the meeting when Coun Cook requested time to speak with the authority’s Head of Legal, Ian Hughes, to seek advice. When councillors returned, Coun Cook was not present. Mr Hughes told councillors: “He has acknowledged that he should have declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, has now done so and stepped out of the meeting.”