Cllr Mark Anderson broke code of conduct over street cleaning

Cllr Mark Anderson, former portfolio holder for environment and place, resigned from BCP Council’s cabinet in early March after fully accepting the findings of an independent investigation into his conduct.

A report by independent governance solicitor Janet Kealey found Cllr Anderson attempted to use his position as a cabinet member for “politically advantageous” gains in the run up to the May local elections.

This came after the member for Queen's Park emailed fellow Conservative councillors about an initiative he intended to commence which he referred to as the ‘big spring clean’.

In his emails, Cllr Anderson explained he was arranging street cleansing operations and asked his colleagues for suggestions as to locations where this could best be targeted.

The complainant, independent councillor Stephen Bartlett, believed Cllr Anderson indicated that the target areas should be those where the Conservatives would benefit from favourable publicity in the lead up to the elections.

In one communication sent in January, Cllr Anderson said of the cleaning locations: “They don't have to be equally spread through the conurbation and if Association Chairman believe they can get enough publicity and support from candidates in wards we don't hold, I will also consider those.”

He also said: “We want to do a few deep cleans around BCP in the coming weeks leading to the locals. I want these to be of benefit to us so please have a look at this list and suggest a site if you think it would be more useful to us.”

The report, which has been published as part of the minutes from last month's BCP Council standards committee meeting, also found Cllr Anderson was “unable to provide a good rebuttal to the suggestion that his conduct was motivated by a desire to gain an electoral advantage”.

Ms Kealey concluded: “I consider that there is clear evidence – in the form of his emails to his political colleagues asking for suggestions for politically advantageous locations for street cleansing and his subsequent forwarding only of these suggestions to the relevant Director – that there was an attempt by Cllr Anderson to use his position as Cabinet member to the advantage of himself and his fellow Conservative councillors.”

In his resignation email, Cllr Anderson said: “I fully accept the findings of the independent investigator, acknowledge that this fell below expectations as a Cabinet member, and I unreservedly apologise.

“I have offered my resignation as cabinet member to the leader of the council, and upon my recovery will continue to serve my ward residents and all those in the BCP area to the best of my ability.”