Standards board probes three councillors

THREE Immingham town councillors have been reported to the local standards board.

North East Lincolnshire Council has confirmed that complaints have been lodged against the town council’s three independent councillors, Joy Banks, who is also the town’s mayor, her husband Vic Banks, and Mike Perrin.

Rob Walsh, NELC’s executive director of business services, told the Grimsby Telegraph: “The standards committee has received three complaints about Immingham town councillors.

“Two are currently subject to investigation and one is yet to be formally considered. No final decision on whether there has been a breach of the code of conduct has been made in any case. ”

Mr Walsh said the standards committee will decide if the complaint against Cllr Perrin merits an investigation when it next meets on October 19.

Investigations are currently being carried out into the complaints against Cllrs Vic and Joy Banks.

A report on each case will go back to the committee, which will then decide whether to refer the case to a full hearing, usually held in public.

Any councillor found guilty of breaching the code of conduct can be suspended from office for up to six months.

Cllr Perrin told the Grimsby Telegraph he had not been made aware of the nature of the accusations made against him.

However, he believes that they relate to a grievance lodged against the town council by town clerk Dave Jackson, which alleges that Cllr Perrin was creating an “uncomfortable” and “intimidating” working environment.

In that grievance, Mr Jackson alleged that Cllr Perrin spread malicious gossip about him, made derogatory comments about the terms and conditions of his employment and treated him in a “demeaning” manner.

However, Cllr Perrin denies these allegations.

He claims he had made legitimate criticisms of the council and its policies.

He claims he is the victim of a “witch-hunt” to have him removed before next year’s election.

As reported, Cllr Perrin was banned from office for three years in 2003 after being found guilty of misconduct towards the then town clerk Irana Lesi by the Adjudication Panel for England.

It is understood that Cllr Joy Banks is being investigated over her alleged behaviour at a function held at Immingham Civic Centre, while Cllr Vic Banks is being investigated for allegedly threatening a member of the public in the town council offices.

Both deny the accusations. Cllrs Joy and Vic Banks declined to comment.

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