CAMPAIGN: Criminal Checks for Councillors - Mendip Councillors Commit to Checks

 

 

Somerset Independents is campaigning for ALL Somerset councillors to have criminal records checks - now known as DBS checks.

Early in August, we wrote to all four Somerset district councils and Somerset County Council, asking them what they did on these checks for their councillors.

So far, as we have reported, Mendip District Council said that councillors had considered the matter twice in the last four years. And BOTH times, councillors refused to bring in checks.

After dialogue with the Chairmen of two Mendip committees, Licensing and Standards, we are pleased to have received the support from Councillor Sam Phripp and Councillor Richard Pinnock who chair each respective committee. The Licensing Committee makes decisions to approve or revoke licenses on taxi drivers, the serving and sale of alcohol, and other establishments. The Standards Committee makes decisions relating to the rules of the Council (including the Constitution) and on the discipline of councillors under the Code of Conduct.

We are delighted that both councillors have given support to our campaign. But we need to see action, so we have written again to both Councillor Phripp and Councillor Pinnock, asking them to ensure the Council brings in these checks immediately by recommending to the other 45 councillors at Mendip.

 

So what of the other councils?

 

Despite having several weeks to reply, the only one that has replied has been Sedgemoor District Council. They DO implement the Basic DBS Checks for all councillors, which we are pleased to hear, although we would prefer that they implement the Standard Check, which includes more information about a councillor's record. But they do not implement Enhanced DBS Checks. We would like to see them do so.

Shamefully: 

• Somerset County Council has still not replied, although we have chased. Instead of giving us the answers, they created a Freedom of Information request instead. They have only days remaining to give us the information.
  
• South Somerset District Council assured us that we would get a reply, but we have not received one.
• Somerset West and Taunton Council have not replied, although we have chased.

 

And we have discovered from our research, that 17 (SEVENTEEN) Mendip councillors did not return their financial "party returns" to officers at Mendip, despite them being legally required to.

We have asked Mendip District Council to tell us which councillors they are. But they are "seeking legal advice", instead of giving us their names.

So if councillors want to be trusted by Somerset residents, isn't it really better to be open and transparent, and to be checked out?

What do these councillors have to hide? We think that Somerset residents deserve better councillors.

Tell us what you think by contacting us at somerinds[at]gmail.com , or via Twitter @SomerInds or via our Facebook Page @SomerInds (Somerset Independents).