DESPITE facing allegations of bullying, intimidation, using his position improperly and using the council's press team to hush-up reporting of an outburst outside a charity ball, Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr David Pugh said he does not intend to stand down.
A group of three fellow councillors have levelled a series of allegations against Cllr Pugh, following his f-word out burst outside the Valentine's Ball, hosted by council chairman Cllr Arthur Taylor.
Following a call from Cllrs Jonathan Bacon, Geoff Lumley and Chris Welsford the Isle of Wight Council's ethical standards committee (ESC) has referred Cllr Pugh for investigation on the following issues:
• You must treat others with respect (Rachael Bushby in relation to events within the ball at the table).
• You must not bully any person (Rachael Bushby in relation to the events within the ball at the table).
• You must not intimidate or attempt to intimidate any person who is likely to be a complainant or a witness (Rachel Bushby in relation to events within the ball at the table).
• You must not do anything which compromises or is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, your authority (Rachael Bushby and the Isle of Wight Council communications department).
• You must not use or attempt to use your position as a member to improperly to confer on or secure for yourself or any other person an advantage or disadvantage (Isle of Wight Council communications department).
• You must when using or authorising the use by others of the resources of your authority ensure that such resources are not used improperly for political purposes.
Cllr Pugh branded the allegations a political witch hunt of the worst kind and accused Cllrs Bacon, Lumley and Welsford of making spurious allegations about his conduct with Ms Bushby.
"I consider, after discussing with colleagues, my position as council leader remains unaffected, given what I consider to be the wholly unsubstantiated nature of these allegations and the lack of any evidence from those individuals who are supposed to have been affected by these alleged breaches," he said.
But Independent Cllr Bacon, said there was very great public concern the council's communications department had been asked to cover up Cllr Pugh's outburst, when he told Carole Dennett, partner of MP Andrew Turner, to f****** leave him alone.
He said there were further concerns about Cllr Pugh's behaviour inside the ball and denied Cllr Pugh's claim the call for an investigation was politically motivated.
He said: "The only way to clear up this matter is to have a proper investigation."
• For more on this story see Friday, March 26, County Press.
Reporter:
ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk