Straford-on-Avon District Council leader Susan Juned believes the cabinet member who used secret recordings against political rivals has no case to answer – but a formal complaint could still land.

Portfolio holder for projects and communications Councillor Louis Adam (Lib Dem, Southam North & Long Itchington) admitted to covertly recording a public meeting hosted by councillors – it was not a formal council meeting – in relation to the South Warwickshire Local Plan amid concerns confidential figures may be released.

He then submitted the recording to the district’s monitoring officer Marcia Eccleston – the council’s most senior legal official – to back claims that Councillor Tony Bromwich (Ind, Southam West) and Councillor Andy Crump (Con, Southam East, Central & Stockton) had breached the authority’s code of conduct but has since stated both were cleared.

Cllr Bromwich told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he first became aware of the secret recordings through that complaints process, calling for the Liberal Democrats to investigate Cllr Adam's use of them, whether there have been other instances and whether party colleagues are complicit.

Cllr Louis Adam. Credit Long Itchington Parish Council.

placeholder image — Cllr Louis Adam. Credit Long Itchington Parish Council.

He also called for Cllr Adam to have the whip – membership of the party group – suspended.

However, district leader Councillor Susan Juned (Lib Dem, Alcester East) said that Cllr Adam had referred himself to Ms Eccleston and the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors – the organisation that provides advice, resources and training for the party’s councillors and campaigners – with no issues highlighted.

Leaning on the point that the meeting was billed as public, Cllr Juned said that Cllr Adam had “wanted to make sure that the details given were accurate”.

“He has taken advice from the monitoring officer who has found that there was nothing wrong (given) that it was a public meeting called by councillors,” she said.

She said Cllr Adam had not made her aware of his intended course of action and while she believes that to be the case for party colleagues as well, she committed to checking whether anyone else knew.

But despite stating that the Association for Liberal Democrat councillors felt “there was nothing that was unreasonable about it”, she would not go so far as to support Cllr Adam’s decision.

“I agree that if you make any recording then you should make it clear,” said Cllr Juned.

“I have said that to him and he has accepted that.”

Asked whether an apology would follow, Cllr Juned replied: “I understand there are other components that have not been made public yet, nothing to do with him (Cllr Adam).

“I think it has been investigated but I will make it clear to all my councillors that if they want to record for taking notes that it should be made clear and ask people if they mind.

“Lots of people take notes, write down things, and it is a modern thing that you use the phone. It is not something that I would do personally.”

Asked if Cllr Adam would face any sanction, Cllr Juned said: “He was asked to meet with the monitoring officer and to seek advice from the Association of Liberal Democrat councillors, which he has done. We have spoken to each other and as far as I am concerned the matter is now closed.

“He will be asking permission, as will all of our councillors, before making any recordings in future.”

Cllr Bromwich argued that the leader’s stance was premature, revealing that he was due to join Cllr Crump and Conservative group leader Councillor Daren Pemberton (Con, Bidford East) in meeting with Ms Eccleston and the council’s chief executive David Buckland next week before deciding whether to pursue a formal complaint against Cllr Adam.