Would-be history making Milton Keynes deputy mayor to face ‘partial investigation’ following standards complaints

A councillor who wants to be the first black woman to be confirmed as deputy mayor in the city is facing a ‘partial investigation’ into whether she broke the council’s code of conduct.
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A meeting of Milton Keynes Council’s standards assessment sub-committee was held behind closed doors on Tuesday (July 7) into two complaints against Cllr Moriah Priestley (Lab, Central MK).

Among the complaints received by the council on May 22 were allegations of fraud, and one that Cllr Priestley did not register an interest in her company, Fenixrising.

Cllr Priestley after the meeting said: “Both complaints around fraud were not upheld, the final issue will also be resolved.”

The standards assessment sub committee meeting was held virtuallyThe standards assessment sub committee meeting was held virtually
The standards assessment sub committee meeting was held virtually

Cllr Priestley’s entry in the register of members’ interests was updated on June 15.

One of the complainants is a senior member of the local NHS and a member of Cllr Priestley’s BAME community. She says at this stage she does not want her name published but wants a hearing to be held in public.

Speaking after the meeting the whistleblower said: “The decision is a victory for the public of Milton Keynes who need to know the facts about the personality and business activities of all their councillors, including Cllr Priestley.

“There is no way that Cllr Priestley should be confirmed as the deputy mayor.”

The sub-committee of three councillors decided to hold the meeting in private after taking legal advice.

Cllr Alice Jenkins (Cons, Danesborough) said she wanted to hold the meeting in public because “we are playing judge and jury on ourselves and it is absolutely right that there is openness.”

But sub-committee chairman Cllr Ric Brackenbury (Lib Dem, Campbell Park & Old Woughton) said he wanted to hold the meeting in private because the complaints included personal financial details.

Asked whether the council could blank out, or redact, names, the council’s monitoring officer, Sharon Bridglalsingh, said: “If you decide to go to the public now, then that makes the documents public as well."

She said that this would be done “immediately” and “we would have no opportunity to redact.”

Cllr Jenkins then said one of the people who had complained had “suggested they are in fear of their safety if their name comes out.”

“I think as a result if we cannot redact the papers, if that is the legal advice, we can’t go public.”

Cllr Pauline Wallis, a Labour central MK ward colleague of Cllr Priestley, said she was in a “difficult position” but they had not spoken.

Like Cllr Jenkins, Cllr Wallis changed her mind on holding the meeting in public.

“Yeah, I don’t think we can, ” she said.

The sub-committee’s decision means they believe a part of the complaint passes their tests to be investigated.

The council is now set to appoint an investigating officer.

Cllr Priestley said the council could have “just asked” for the information and is prolonging this situation.

“My name is clear from the majority of the complaints,” she said.