Information Bulletin
30 November 2005
Standards Commission Hearing: Lerwick 30 November 2005
Councillor Tom Stove, formerly Vice-Chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s Planning Sub-Committee, was called to attend a hearing of the Standards Commission today to acknowledge his breach, earlier this year, of elements of the Councillor’s Code of Conduct relating to disclosures of interest.
The Council is advised that the penalty will be a period of suspension from participating in meetings of the Council, Committees or Sub-Committees for 1 month. In relation to the Planning Sub-Committee, specifically, an additional suspension of an extra period of 5 months was also imposed. The periods of suspension will be intimated in writing and will take effect from a date early in 2006 prior to which Councillor Stove will have time to consider to appeal the outcome.
Shetland Islands Council Convener who had been attending to other business and was not present at the hearing commented afterwards that the maintenance of high standards of conduct were central to the trust the electorate of Shetland placed in its Council and in individual Councillors. The Councillor’s Code of Conduct had a part to play in the maintenance of those standards. However he was aware of the circumstances of this case and said that the penalty meted out seemed harsh, given the quite proper actions of the Councillor in the later stages of the planning process and, in particular, his lack of involvement in the final planning decision related to the complaint.
Continuing, Mr Cluness commented that Councillors had to balance the duties and guidance given in the code with the need to represent constituent’s interests. Often striking that balance raised difficulties and in this instance Councillor Stove, on his own admission said he should not have taken part in the first stage of the planning process even if that meant declining to represent the views of one of his constituents. Finally, Mr Cluness observed that the suspensions would exclude Councillor Stove from the Chamber for a relatively short period of time but this would not affect his ability to continue with his Constituency and other Council business.
Ends….