Leader insists leaked remarks ‘not meant to be taken seriously’

ACOUNCIL leader is facing a standards investigation after a recording emerged in which he apparently threatened not to spend money on roads and pavements in wards in which Labour aren’t ‘successful’ at May’s local elections.

Coun Allen Brett took over as the Labour leader of Rochdale council after Richard Farnell’s resignation last December.

In a statement issued after an audio file was made public, councillor Brett said he was disappointed that his ‘off-thecuff remarks’ about spending at a private meeting were recorded and leaked.

He said his comments were ‘not meant to be threatening seriously’.

Opposition leaders in Rochdale, however, have called for him to face sanctions. Labour Party sources said he was likely to be referred to the council’s standards committee.

The recording was published on the community news website Rochdale Online.

Coun Brett is heard saying £12m has been ‘put into roads and pavements in Rochdale’ – cash which he says would be split between Rochdale’s four townships.

He says he’s been given an ‘indicative list’.

He then goes on to say, according to the audio clip: “But I am not releasing it (the money) because, I’ll deny I’ve said this and I’m very reluctant to say it even in or taken this room. If we don’t do successful (sic) in one ward, I might not spend any money in that ward.

“You can work that out but I’ll deny I’ve said it. I will. Because I’m not having it...like I was canvassing yesterday to be told in Milnrow that...” The audio then cuts out.

It’s not known who recorded the clip, but it’s believed to have been made at a local Labour Party meeting earlier this year.

When approached by the M.E.N. about the recording and his comments, he said: “It’s disappointing that one of the Labour Group felt the need to record my off-the-cuff remarks at what was a private meeting and then pass them on to the media. My remarks were not meant to be threatening or taken seriously.

“I intend to act upon what I see as a blatant breach of trust and confidentiality. Group members need to feel they are able to discuss any issues with fellow Party members without fear of being recorded illicitly.”

In a statement, a Labour Party spokesman said: “The Labour Party demands high standards of its elected representatives and the comments expressed here fall short of those standards.”

Andy Kelly, leader of the Liberal Democrats and a ward councillor in Milnrow and Newhey told the Observer he has lodged a formal complaint against Coun Brett with the council’s chief executive.

A Rochdale council spokesman said: “The council’s capital programme was agreed at a meeting of the full council ●●In a leaked recording Labour council leader Allen Brett (inset) is heard to say he might not spend road repair money in wards where the party don’t do well at the coming local elections on February 28.

“Decisions on how funding for the roads and repair programme will be allocated will be taken by the council’s four township committees and based on the condition of roads and footpaths.”

Coun Ashley Dearnley, leader of Rochdale Conservatives, said: “I have written to the chief executive to say all 60 councillors should have the indicative list for the highways repair programme so the public can have confidence that money is being used on a needs basis, not for political gain.

“Coun Brett talks about this money like it was his, but it’s not - it’s council tax payers’ money. It’s like we’re living in a political dictatorship.”