Staffordshire council leader safe – but police could investigate
A council leader has survived a vote calling him for him to ousted for failing to declare interests – but police could launch an investigation.
Stafford borough councillors were asked to vote on whether leader Mike Heenan should be removed from his post for not declaring that he was company secretary at three firms.
A motion was brought by opposition councillors who claimed he had committed a criminal offence. But it was defeated by 32 to votes to two.
But last night's council meeting heard that Staffordshire Police are now looking at whether to start an investigation.
The Localism Act 2011 made it a criminal offence for a councillor not to declare their financial interests.
During a heated debate Councillor Heenan was accused of not officially declaring that he was company secretary for the firms Ise Estates Ltd, Ise Trading Ltd and Greatrex Ltd.
And independent councillor Robert Stephens, who drew up the motion, said Councillor Heenan had previously apologised for 'mistakenly' omitting some of the positions he holds from a public register of interests. He told the meeting: "As representatives of the council it is incumbent on all of us to ensure those who lead us do so with impartiality."
But communities chief Councillor Patrick Farrington said: "This is politics of the nastiest kind. It is sewer politics.
"We don't have any information yet and we have no facts other than the motion put forward which is quite frankly baseless and absurd and a nonsense. I thought this country had a principle of innocent until proven guilty."
And health boss Councillor Frank Finlay said it was 'a very sad day for the council' as a councillor's integrity had 'never been questioned in this way' before.
The matter has been referred to the council's standards committee.
After the meeting Councillor Heenan, who was not present for the debate or vote, said: "I'm grateful to my colleagues for the support they have showed me this evening."
Staffordshire Police spokeswoman Faye Casey said: "We have received information which we are reviewing to establish if there is a requirement for an investigation or any criminal offences."
