The Standards Board for England, which is supposed to oversee the conduct of councillors, has just released a damming report into the activities of ex-Leeds City Councillor Bryan North.
Following a series of allegations made about his activities during his Mayoral term of office between 2002 and 2003, North cleared his house, resigned his Councillor’s post and flew off to live in Spain.
The report examined 15 complaints, clearing North on only six and upholding 7 against him including spending an excessive amount of the Lord Mayor’s allowance on expensive items of clothing, failing to register 15 items he was given during civic visits to China and Germany, misusing public funds by charging the council for the use of taxis for private purposes, hosting a civic reception for 100 of his neighbours, claiming for meals when not on civic duty, accepting and using two complimentary tickets for him and his wife to visit Jamaica and later keeping optician’s vouchers worth £300.
The report was unclear on two other charges including whether Councillor North had acted improperly by allowing a Chinese tailor to run a business on council premises for a few hours. The report does not ask whether those Leeds City Councillors who took the opportunity to be measured and fitted with new suits did so whilst on council business.
The Standards Board, toothless as ever, was unable to recommend any action should be taken against North, noting that he was no longer a councillor, lived abroad and had taken into account the fact that Leeds City Council had honoured the vast majority of Councillor North’s claims, including some of those later questioned by an internal audit report.
Speaking from Spain North has said that he is to complain to the Parliamentary and Local Government Ombudsman over the way his case has been handled.
Councillors who have enquired to see whether West Yorkshire Police are considering prosecuting Mr North have been told that the CPS were sent a file but decided to take no action.
North, whose wife was a Justice of the Peace, had been the manager at the local office of Crimestoppers before he decided to fly off to live in Spain.
One independent councillor, Albert Slingsby, told me that “North only went off to Spain because the temperature in Yorkshire was a lot warmer”.
Mark Metcalf – January 23rd 2006.