Liberal Democrat Councillor found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute

Date published: 02/11/2005

Liberal Democrat Councillor William Hobhouse was brought before the Rochdale Council Standards committee on 1 November and found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute following a complaint by a member of the public. Along with two councillors, three independent members stood on the standards committee and declared that Hobhouse would be banned from planning committee and regulatory meetings for eight weeks, and would have to write a written apology to the standards board.

In response, Bamford Councillor Hobhouse has agreed to apologise. He acknowledged that he made a mistake after only 5 months as a Councillor by visiting a Constituent to discuss a Planning Application whilst a Member of the Planning Committee.
 
Cllr. Hobhouse said, "Last November when I had been a councillor for only 5 months I visited a resident and discussed his planning application. Had I not been a member of the planning committee this would have been a perfectly normal thing for a councillor to do. However, as I was on the Planning Committee, I broke the Planning Code of Conduct, and therefore the Council Code of Conduct. I realise my mistake and I have apologised to the Standards Committee.  Unfortunately I did not have the benefit of any advice from my former Conservative colleagues at the time."
 
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group - Cllr. Alan Taylor said, "I know that William has acknowledged his mistake and will learn from it - I hope that the Conservative Party will also learn from it, he was a Member of the Conservative Party at the time."

He went on to say: "William Hobhouse is a great asset to the Liberal Democrat Group and I know he will continue to represent the people of Bamford with the same vigour he has always done."
 
Paul Rowen MP - was Leader of the Council at the time - he said, "William has had a minor slap on the wrists - I wrote to the Leader of the Conservative Group at the time.  I warned him that the Hobhouse's needed taking under the wing of some of their more experienced Councillors."

He added:  "To put this case into perspective - it was a year ago and since they have benefited from months of unity and training from the biggest group on the Council.  William and Wera are outstanding community workers and are really making a difference to the communities of Norden and Bamford."

Conservative leader, Cllr Ian Duckworth said: "Cllr Hobhouse has forgotten nothing and learnt nothing since leaving the Conservative Party, the flaw is in his judgement and character.

"William Hobhouse was trained like all other councillors in July 2004 - during the training, special emphasis was placed on the dangers of visiting people in their own homes.

"The Committee ruling is not just a slap on the wrist, he has been banned from Planning Committee for two months.

"It is a very serious matter when a member of the public makes a complaint. This is the first time a councillor has been brought before the Standards Committee and found guilty.”

Rochdale Council Planning Department confirmed to Rochdale Online that they oversee the training for councillors on the Planning Committee and that Cllr Hobhouse attended the same training sessions as other councillors.