CODE of conduct investigations involving several Dorset councillors will not be going ahead after a preliminary investigation.

A Dorset Council panel has decided that none of the councillors has a case to answer and one complaint has been settled by an apology.

Among those named in the paperwork are Ferndown mayor Julie Robinson, town councillors Mike Parkes, Harry Worth, Cathy Lugg, all Conservatives, and independent councillor Paul Hanson Graham.

A panel of three Dorset Council members set up to consider the findings of a preliminary investigation has ruled that none of the complaints merited a full investigation and hearing and will not be taken any further.

The panel was recommended to be held in private, but at the insistence of chairman Cllr Bill Pipe was held in public and could be viewed online.

At the request of the Local Democracy Reporting Service the council later released the key paperwork involved with the complaints.

Council solicitor Roger Greene told the panel of three councillors that one of the complaints claimed that Cllr Hanson Graham had breached a confidence about the Barrington Centre in Penny’s Walk, despite being warned not to do so. He is alleged to have told the annual meeting on May 28, 2019, that the town council would be taking over the centre. He denies that he used the words alleged and claimed the information was already known to the public.

Director of PramaLIFE Christopher Beale complained to the council about the breach of confidence saying it had caused concern among the staff and embarrassment for the company. The information was said to involve commercially sensitive information relating to a possible transfer by PramaLIFE of the Barrington Centre to the town council’s management.

Mr Greene said he had spoken to Mr Hanson Graham about the complaint and the independent councillor later apologised to Christopher Beale who accepted the apology.

Panel member Cllr Bill Trite said he believed the councillor should have foreseen the embarrassment his disclosure would have caused but because an apology had been made and accepted saw no need for further investigation.

“He ignored fellow councillors' attempts to stop discussing it…but his apology has been accepted,” he said.

Cllr Trite said that Cllr Hanson Graham had argued that the information was in the public domain and was not confidential.

The panel decided there was no need for further action.

A second complaint, made by Cllr Hanson Graham, alleged the misuse of town council resources. The panel heard that this allegation involved allowing a local Conservative group use of the Ferndown Town Council offices, including its photocopier.

The solicitor said that the arrangement had been organised by Dorset Council cabinet member Cllr Ray Bryan, who is not a town council member. Other councillors named in the complaint were Cllr Julie Robinson, Cllr Mike Parkes Cllr Cathy Lugg and Cllr Harry Worth.

Mr Green said that the use had been sanctioned by a town council officer and was legitimate with the costs properly invoiced, clearly stating that it was for the Christchurch and East Dorset Conservative Party.

Mr Greene said that the complaint was ‘ill-conceived’ because a town council could not be the subject of a code of conduct complaint and therefore did not merit any further action. It has also been a proper, authorised use, with no loss to the town council.

“Each of these four (councillors) paid for this printing: They didn’t sneak into the office late at night and start using the photo-copier. It was open and above board and quite clearly, in my view, sanctioned by a town council officer. There is no mis-use of resources at all. What has been done has been paid for,” said solicitor Roger Green. He said the four councillors involved had rebutted the allegation of misuse of council resources.