Bournemouth councillor John Beesley hits out at ‘intolerable’ investigation delay (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bournemouth councillor John Beesley hits out at ‘intolerable’ investigation delay

9:00am Friday 9th July 2010 in

By Darren Slade » Chief Reporter

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A TOP Bournemouth councillor has spoken of the “intolerable” position he has been put in by the lengthy investigation which has cost him his job as chairman of planning.

Deputy council leader Cllr John Beesley will not be standing for the vacant post of council leader when the Conservative group chooses its nomination for the job tonight.

Cllr Beesley, who is being investigated over a complaint about his friendship with a planning consultant, has also bowed to pressure to resign as chairman of the borough’s planning board.

But he is angry that the council’s standards committee has already taken months to investigate his case, with no conclusion in sight.

Cllr Beesley said: “Initially, I had anticipated that the process would take only six to eight weeks and have repeatedly asked why the inquiry cannot be conducted sooner but have not received any satisfactory response.”

He added: “I fully expect to be vindicated by the inquiry of the unfounded and politically motivated accusations against me.”

Joy Postings, the council’s service director for law and governance, said the case was being dealt with by an independent investigator, who also had day-to-day work commitments and had recently been on leave following an operation.

The case involved complex allegations, with evidence to be assessed and questions put to Cllr Beesley.

“While it is not in anyone’s interests to keep the matter open longer than it needs to, it is important that the report produced is an accurate, complete and thorough record into the complaint made,” she said.

“It is anticipated that a draft report may be ready later in the summer.”

As deputy leader, Cllr Beesley remains the senior member of the Conservative administration until the full council picks a new leader following the resignation of Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin last week.

The Conservative group wields a big majority on the council and will tonight choose between Cllr Bob Lawton and Cllr Peter Charon as its nominee for the leadership.

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Comments(20)

busguy says...
9:31am Fri 9 Jul 10

Mr Beasley has been, unfortunately for him, subject to a type of inefficiency that could not and would not be tolerated in a private business.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of this case, the person under investigation is owed a reasonably quick decision. Most of the 'reasons' given for the delay are inexcusable. What was the guidance given to the investigator on the urgency of the matter? Why pick someone with day-to-day work to attend to? To me the person was probably contracted to do one day a week on this with no time limit. I might be wrong, and will willingly stand corrected, but I have been there, done it, and seen it to do with council environmental cases that are subcontracted out and drag on without the necessary controls.
Of course, having an operation is unfortunate for the individual and I wish them well, but in the cold light of day it just adds further to the delay.
The public want this sorting out quickly, one way or another too!