Inquiry into council leader will be led by independent investigator (From Daily Echo)

Inquiry into council leader will be led by independent investigator

4:30pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

Inquiry into council leader will be led by independent investigator

A PROBE into the conduct of the under-fire leader of Southampton council will be lead by an independent investigator, the Echo can reveal.

Candidates with a legal background and standards chiefs at other councils are being considered to carry out the “robust”

independent investigation.

The inquiry into whether or not Richard Williams and other councillors breached the code of conduct and other rules follows a special Echo investigation.

The Echo last week revealed how Cllr Williams misled the public over the reasons for the resignation of a Cabinet member and has been accused of a cover-up.

It was also revealed his fellow Labour councillors stood by him when the deception was revealed to them ahead of a no confidence vote.

The council’s monitoring officer Mark Heath is now considering potential independent candidates with knowledge of local government to carry out the inquiry.

A council spokesman said: “The monitoring officer has decided that the issues surrounding this matter warrant investigation.

“He has also decided that the investigation will be carried out by someone from outside the council.”

He added: “It should also be made clear that he is not saying at this stage there has been a breach of the law, any code or protocol, but the position is such that in the interests of the council and all concerned, the matter warrants proper and robust investigation.”