Chair of investigation asked to step down
A statement from Cheshire East Council said they have received information which ‘raises concerns’ about actions taken by Coun Murray while serving on the authority’s Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC) for further investigations.
A council spokesperson said: “This is a neutral act, intended to protect Coun Murray and the council from concerns of a similar nature arising whilst the matter is considered further.
“The council is considering very carefully whether this matter is capable of having any adverse impact on the work undertaken by the committees to date. Early indications are that the work of the committees to date is not affected by the concerns raised.
“Coun Margaret Simon, vice-chairman of the IDC, will act as IDC chairman on an interim basis while these matters are resolved.”
In a later statement, a spokesperson for Cheshire East Council said that the concerns do not relate to Coun Murray’s work on the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.
The spokesperson said: “We would also like to be very clear that the decision to ask Coun Murray to stand down from his committee duties is entirely unconnected to observations/concerns he may have about the issue of making severance payments to officers who are subject to disciplinary processes.”
Coun Murray said: “Naturally I will co-operate fully with any investigation and in the meantime I will continue to act as a diligent ward councillor.”