Minutes:
The Sub-Committee considered an allegation made by Mrs Dawn Groom that Councillor Sukhjit Dhaliwal failed to declare an interest at a meeting of the Council’s Licensing Committee held on the 2nd March 2005, during consideration of a public entertainment licence for The Flags Public House.
The complainant alleged that a relative of Councillor Dhaliwal owned a public house called the Five Rivers. She stated that an application for an identical variation in licence to that applied for in respect of The Flags had been refused by neighbouring South Bucks District Council and was under appeal at the time of the Licensing Committee meeting. The complainant considered a conflict of interest arose because, if both establishments were granted the same licence variation, they would be in direct competition. The complainant alleged that Councillor Dhaliwal’s alleged family and business connection in the other application would have warranted the disclosure of an interest when considering the application from The Flags Public House.
The allegation had been referred by the Standards Board for England to the Monitoring Officer for investigation and, in accordance with the procedure previously agreed by the Standards Committee, he had delegated the investigation to Assaf Chaudry, Solicitor (Contracts) i.e. the Investigating Officer.
The Investigating Officer’s final written report outlining how he conducted his investigation, the evidence gathered, his findings and conclusion was submitted for consideration.
The Investigating Officer reported that he had not come across any evidence which refuted or contradicted the Member’s signed written statement that she nor her husband were related to Mr Kulwinder Dhaliwal, (a director of the company which owned the Five Rivers Public House) as defined by paragraph 8.4(a) of the Local Code of Conduct and that she did not have an interest in the Five Rivers Public House as defined by paragraph 8.3(a) of the Code. Mr Kulwinder Dhaliwal had also confirmed in a written signed statement that he was neither related to Councillor Dhaliwal through marriage nor blood and neither she nor her husband had a financial interest in the Five Rivers Public House. On the evidence presented the Investigating Officer had concluded that Councillor Dhaliwal had not breached the Local Code of Conduct.
The Sub-Committee having considered the Investigating Officer’s report
Resolved – That Councillor Dhaliwal has not failed to comply with the Council’s Local Code of Conduct.