Wiltshire Council leader reported for ‘breaching code of conduct’
Cllr Ian Thorn is facing accusations from a fellow Calne Town councillor
An official complaint has been lodged with Wiltshire Council after its leader allegedly breached the council’s own Code of Conduct.
Calne Town Councillor Bobby Seymour filed the complaint on Thursday, following comments made by Cllr Ian Thorn – who is also the mayor of Calne – during a vote of no confidence in his mayoralty.
During the meeting, Cllr Thorn announced that a deal had been struck with the operator of a household recycling centre near the town to keep it open.
Wiltshire Council’s Liberal Democrat administration had previously said they wanted to close the two facilities – at Purton and at Lower Compton, near Calne – because they were too expensive to run.
Wiltshire Council was not formally told about the deal until a cabinet meeting the following day.
In his complaint, which has been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Seymour accuses Cllr Thorn of:
An apparent predetermination of a cabinet decision, and a potential breach of the Nolan Principles – a set of ethical standards for public office-holders – through the use of executive office in the context of a vote concerning his own mayoral position.
“The cabinet meeting on February 3 was the lawful decision-making forum for the matter,” says Cllr Seymour in his complaint.
“However, the announcement at Calne Town Council on February 2 was framed in a manner that implied finality rather than being presented clearly as a proposal subject to cabinet determination.”
“Even if cabinet technically retained the legal power to decide, presenting the matter as settled the day before the meeting creates the appearance that the decision had already been made.”
The complaint continues: “The more serious concern relates to the context and timing of the announcement.
“The policy was announced at Calne Town Council during a meeting in which the leader was facing a vote of no confidence regarding his position as mayor. The policy was directly relevant to that debate.
“The timing of the announcement gives rise to a reasonable perception that the position of leader of Wiltshire Council was used to influence a vote concerning his own mayoral office at another authority.
“Even if the policy itself was legitimate and properly developed, the use of privileged, non-public information in that forum, immediately prior to a no confidence vote, risks creating the perception that public office was used to secure personal political advantage.”
Responding, Cllr Thorn told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “At the town council meeting, I shared some aspects of a potential arrangement with Hills Waste Management.
“This was one of the issues that was raised against me. I felt I had to respond. There was no pre-determination at all.
“The matter was considered at cabinet the following day, as it should.
“I’m really not sure what rule I have broken.”
The council’s monitoring officer will decide whether the complaint warrants further investigation.