Town hall 'clocking in' claim fails
Wigan town hall watchdogs have dropped a "clocking in" probe against two councillors.
A Community Action Party (CAP) father and daughter team found themselves at the centre of an investigation after an official complaint to the Metro Standards Committee from the rival Independents group.
They were asked to investigate claims that Hindley Green member Coun Barry Fagan had swiped the identification card of his daughter, Coun Louise Fagan, through the council chamber's electronic voting console at the full council meeting earlier this month.
Although cash allowances linked to attendance were abandoned a number of years ago, councillors must attend a minimum number of meetings or risk a political challenge from opponents which could see them disbarred.
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Leader of the Independents group Coun Brian Merry said that they accepted that Coun Louise Fagan was in the council chamber before the committee was in session.
Their complaint alleged that her father Coun Barry Fagan had then been seen by Independent members inserting the council card into Coun Louise Fagan's voting machine, to signify her presence and right to vote.
He further claimed that when he was challenged about why Louise Fagan's voting console had been activated, Independent members receive no explanation but a "string of abuse".
But the council's Standards Committee has confirmed it will not be proceeding any further with the complaint.
In a letter to councillors, service director borough solicitor Kevin Lawson said that the Standards Committee "was extremely concerned" that because the complaint had been reported in the Wigan Evening Post in advance of the meeting, the complaints system may well have been used for party political purposes.
Speaking on behalf of both Coun Fagans, CAP group leader Coun Paul Tushingham welcomed the decision.
He said: "Under the 30-day rule, during which period no formal comment may be made, both councillors are unable to say much more at this stage.
"All we can say is that the council's legal team have dismissed the claims against both councillors and that there is no substance to these false allegations – and there never was!"
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
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Light sleet
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