West Wiltshire District Council Libel Action

EDM number 849 in 1989-90, proposed by Stuart Randall on 04/04/1990.

That this House notes the report of the district auditor relating to the running of West Wiltshire District Council by its senior officers Messrs. Garland, White, Pugh and Archer which stated that the reports submitted by officers and the advice offered to members 'fell short of the standard which is to be expected of experienced local government officers'; notes that the motion of no confidence tabled by the then Tory councillors Payne and Pearce in 1987 against these officers was met with intimidation and the extortion of ú750 in an out of court settlement paid by both councillors Payne and Pearce; and calls on Messrs. Garland, Pugh, White and Archer to apologise by making good the losses incurred by the poll tax payers of West Wiltshire as a result of their incompetence and further to apologise for the stress caused to councillors Payne and Pearce and to repay in full their unnecessary financial loss from their substantial income gained by fraudulent contracts and deals with council companies.

This motion has been signed by a total of 5 MPs.