Council leader told to appear before the standards committee
THE leader of Rochdale council has been summoned to appear before a standards committee six months after a recording was leaked of him suggesting he might not spend money in nonLabour voting wards.
Coun Allen Brett said he had received a letter from the council advising him the committee was due to meet, whether he wanted representation and enquiring as to his availability.
In August the Observer saw a draft report of an independent investigation which found Coun Brett had ‘brought himself, his office and the council into disrepute.’
Coun Brett said he could not account for the delay in the calling of the standards committee, but suggested it could be due to the leaking of the report in August.
He added that the council’s monitoring officer was responsible for calling meetings of the standards sub-committee and he had no influence on the timing of it, but declined to comment on the matter further.
The controversial recording was initially published by community news website Rochdale Online.
Councillor 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 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.
However, Coun Brett later said his ‘off-the-cuff’ comments were not meant to be taken seriously, and expressed his disappointment over the leak.
Coun Brett replaced former leader Coun Richard Farnell, who stood down from the position last year after he was found to have lied to the Statutory Independent Inquiry on child sexual abuse.
Rochdale Council says it has followed its processes which accounts for the six month interval between the matter coming to light and the hearing being called.
It also confirmed that Coun Brett has no say on who sits on the standards committee.
David Wilcock, assistant director (legal, governance and workforce), said: “We have had to follow the council’s published procedures to ensure the independent investigation was thorough and followed a fair process.”