Southam councillor sorry over secret recording row - but no apology from leader over double error
A senior councillor has apologised for obtaining covert recordings of political opponents – but his leader stopped short of a sorry in her correction of two untrue statements.
A storm engulfed the leadership of Stratford-on-Avon District Council when opposition councillors called out portfolio holder for projects and communications Councillor Louis Adam (Lib Dem, Southam North & Long Itchington) for secretly recording a public but informal meeting related to the South Warwickshire Local Plan.
In a subsequent interview, Cllr Adam acknowledged he had used the recordings in unsuccessful code of conduct complaints against neighbouring ward councillors Tony Bromwich (Ind, Southam West) and Andy Crump (Con, Southam East, Central & Stockton).
When asked if he regretted his actions, Cllr Adam said “to some extent” but also that he had “operated fairly” having believed that his rivals were going to publicise confidential figures.
Both councillors were cleared of any wrongdoing and called on Cllr Adam’s methods to be investigated but district leader Councillor Susan Juned (Lib Dem, Alcester East) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that her cabinet member had “taken advice from the (council’s) monitoring officer who has found that there was nothing wrong”, and that she believed Cllr Adam had “no case to answer”.
When asked at that point whether an apology would follow, Cllr Juned said: “I understand there are other components that have not been made public yet, nothing to do with him.”
Seventeen days on and Stratford-on-Avon District Council has issued two statements – an apology from Cllr Adam and Cllr Juned’s admission that those two comments were not true.
Cllr Adam’s statement read: “I would like to apologise for not making it clear at the outset that I had made a recording of the meeting in question.
"I recognise that being more open at the time would have helped avoid any misunderstanding.
“I regret any concern this may have caused to colleagues or members of the public and remain committed to working positively with all parties.
" I hope that by offering this public apology, the matter can now be considered closed and that we can move forward in a constructive way.”
Cllr Juned’s statement read: “I wish to clarify that I know of no additional undisclosed components relating to this matter.
“I incorrectly stated that Councillor Adam had referred himself to the monitoring officer.
"I now understand that he did not but sought advice elsewhere.
“The monitoring officer has not yet been asked to reach any formal decision on any specifics of this matter.”
Monitoring officer Marcia Eccleston is the most senior legal official employed by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and the arbiter of complaints about any district or parish councillors on the patch.
Cllr Juned has been approached for further comment.