Complaints against a would-be mayor of Milton Keynes will be considered again after the council hit the reset button on a “potentially tainted” committee.
It emerged last week that Cllr Moriah Priestley knows independent panel member Dr Vasco Fernandes through church and community connections, and by serving on a committee with him.
Cllr Ric Brackenbury (Lib Dem, Campbell Park & Old Woughton), who chairs the council’s standards committee, said; “We are going to reconvene, rescind the decision and hear the matters again with a different independent person.”
Cllr Brackenbury said: “None of the people hearing the matter had any idea there is a connection until after the meeting.
“We believe there was no bias in the decision but there is a perception of bias and that means the process is potentially tainted.”
Since the meeting that was held on July 7 the council has been wrestling with how to handle the issue. They have now decided to have a clean break with a new slate of councillors.
A member of the public who lodged complaints against Cllr Priestley (Lab, Central MK) and knows her and Dr Fernandes, was watching the meeting on YouTube before the three councillors voted to switch off the YouTube live broadcast
The council had confirmed that knowing someone would have required a declaration of interest but neither Cllr Priestley nor Dr Fernandes, a retired NHS consultant, raised the issue.
Since then the council’s legal advisor and councillors have been working out what to do because the situation is unprecedented.
“There will be a delay of a couple of weeks to the process,” said Cllr Brackenbury.
The sub committee on July 7 had decided to carry out a “part investigation” into alleged breaches of the council’s code of conduct.
A normal requirement to publish the full reasons for that decision had been due yesterday (Tuesday), but Cllr Brackenbury said that this would no longer happen.
The whistleblower, a senior member of the NHS locally and a fellow Nigerian of Cllr Priestley, said today that she had “no confidence” in the process as it is “rocked with scandals now.
“Any decision not to investigate all allegations and by investigators from outside MK will not be accepted. The public interest should be paramount.”
Cllr Priestley, who is seeking to be the first black woman to become deputy mayor in the 40 year history of the city said she intends to clear her name.
“My only wish is to have a fair hearing and to clear my name, which I intend to do.
“I will stick things out because the precedent is worth it for my community and I am worth it,” she added.
