Following the two and a half year investigation by the England Standard’s Board, a report from the Adjudication Panel For England has today found that Cllr Bishop’s breaches of the Code to be serious and sustained, the result of which is a two year ban as a councillor.
The long awaited 21 page report tells us that Cllr Bishop’s “behaviour included many aggravating features, in that it involved behaviour as a member of two different authorities, occurred notwithstanding officer advice, involved other Councillors whom she knew (but did not warn) to be at risk of breaching the Code and had a cataclysmic effect upon the Council.”
It goes on to say that Cllr Bishop’s actions, during her planning application in 2007, brought her own office as Councillor into disrepute, as well as the Council itself.
The ESO officer reporting to the Panel felt that Cllr Bishop’s approach during the proceedings were self-justificatory and uncooperative. He told them that Cllr Bishop showed “no remorse for her actions and no understanding of the ethical standards.”
Rather damningly he continued that “She simply does not care that her actions amounted to serious breaches of the requisite ethical standards.”
The Case Tribunal however, felt that Cllr Bishop’s personal circumstances during the period did carry some weight towards mitigating circumstances and acknowledged that although somewhat belated, Cllr Bishop had expressed regret as to the effect of her actions upon Cllr Churchman.
Anne Bishop Adjudication Panel Decision (Word doc)
All eyes are now awaiting the fate of Cllr Andy Sutton.
