Allerdale Timeshare No 9

EDM number 307 in 1990-91, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 16/01/1991.

That this House believes that the monitoring officer for Allerdale District Council who is an honourable man is now placed in the invidious position where clearly a conflict of interest exists; believes that the proposition that the Secretary to the timeshare company who is also a council officer should be allowed to write a report on the actions of other officers of the council relating to the timeshare and spa development is utterly ludicrous; furthermore notes the legal advice given to the honourable Member indicating that a monitoring officer's report into the actions of a council's own officers, if it is to comply with section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, can only find contraventions or maladministration; notes that any other kind of report can only be drawn up and placed before councillors under section 5(3) if councillors by a majority have so instructed; notes it is not required under the law; notes that departmental officials have expressed surprise over this use of the 1989 Act; and believes that the only fair and credible way forward is for Mr Perry to answer the 14 questions immediately, stop the prevarication, take legal advice as to the duties of monitoring officers and their deputies and make a public statement as to why he is allowing the monitoring officer to produce a report before both Labour and Conservative councillors have had the opportunity of considering the evidence from both the honourable Member and Mr Norman Turner, substantiating allegations made in Parliament.

This motion has been signed by a total of 1 MPs.