COUNCILLOR CLEARED OF CHARGES

A Somerset County Councillor has been cleared of serious charges, but still suffers as if he was found guilty.

Councillor Paul Buchanan, formerly Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, has been found innocent of charges put before the Standards Board of England. The charges against him were brought by the Council's Chief Executive over a two-year period. In a four-hundred-page report by an Adjudication Panel of the Standards Board of England, Mr Buchanan was cleared on all but one minor charge, and a censure was the only sanction. But Mr Buchanan's political career as councillor is severely damaged nevertheless.

Ken Maddock, Conservative Group Leader on Somerset County Council, said, "There seems to be an injustice here. Paul Buchanan and I are on opposite sides of the political divide. But this is not a party political issue. It is a matter of fairness. If he is innocent he should not suffer. So I have asked the Chairman of the Council to call a special meeting of the Full Council to give Mr Buchanan the opportunity to explain his position and clear his name in public session. He is entitled to a fair hearing.''

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