Search for
Search for
Search forStreet market vote sparks complaint
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 10:41
Jeanette Richards and her councillor son-in-law David Thomas played a key role in opposing moves which would have allowed the market to take place in Victoria Street when the proposals went before a licensing meeting.
Cabinet member Cllr Richards holds a street trading licence and Cllr Thomas sometimes works for her.
Both councillors, who are Conservatives, insist there has been no conflict of interest.
But Torbay Council has confirmed that an investigation has been launched following a complaint by a member of the public.
The council's referral sub-committee has met to look at the complaint and the matter has now been passed to the authority's monitoring officer to appoint an investigating officer to report back to the committee.
Torbay Council has not revealed the identity of the complainant.
Cllr Richards, who is a director of J and J Catering and holds a street trading licence, and Cllr Thomas, who is company director and occasionally works for her, were the main opponents at the meeting to re-designate part of the main shopping area in Paignton for street trading.
If the proposal had gone through, it could have allowed the outdoor market plan to go ahead at a later date.
Cllr Richards proposed the refusal, which was seconded by Cllr Thomas.
Cllr Richards, who was working at Paignton Regatta last week with her business, said she was given legal advice by one of the council's senior officers that she did not have to disclose an interest as the meeting was not discussing street trading.
She insisted: "I am not a street trader. I am an events caterer although I have to hold a street trading licence to do that.
"I have never traded on the street in Torbay, only on the greens and harbours for large events. It is because of this there is no conflict of interest. I am not a street trader."
She said she opposed the Paignton market plan to protect the environment of Victoria Street as the area had just won plaudits Cllr Richards said: "If I was to get anything from it I would be more likely to vote for the plan than against it, wouldn't I?
"What I was doing was for the good of the town. It was nothing to do with markets.
"I was shocked and a bit surprised to hear of the complaint because all I was doing was for the good of the Bay and I believe that Victoria Street should look good."
Cllr Thomas, who is married to Cllr Richards' daughter Jacquie, is a director of J and J Catering, a family-run events catering business which runs through the summer only.
He said: "I don't believe I have a conflict of interest as I do not hold a street trading licence."
He said the subject of the meeting was not about a market but for the permissions which would have allowed a market plan to be discussed at a later date.
Cllr Thomas said: "My biggest concern was the proposal which would have meant the removal of safety bollards which could mean heavy goods vehicles devastating the pavement.
"I don't want to see that part of the town damaged.
"If I was looking to make money I would be looking to support street trading as I would want to put in a catering unit there.
"I am not against a market and I think one for Paignton would be fantastic but we do not want to destroy that street just to have a market."
A council spokesman said: 'The referral sub-committee's role is to act as a filter.
"The sub-committee does not make any findings of fact, but simply considers, against a set of local assessment criteria, whether to refer the matter on to the monitoring officer or in exceptional cases, the Standards Board on the grounds that the complaint reveals a potential breach of the members code of conduct.
"The fact that any such referral is made is not in itself indicative of any misconduct on the part of the member concerned."
If a report from the investigating officer indicates the complaint needs to go before the next stage in the process, a hearings committee, this would take place with both the councillors and the complainant present and would be in public.
