AN INVESTIGATION that has cost at least £1,650 in which two Teignmouth councillors alleged of misconduct were cleared, has prompted a leading councillor to urge the local council watchdog, The Standards Board, to crackdown on vexatious complaints. Liberal Democrat and leader of Teignbridge Council Alan Connett has approached the Standards Board after two of his group members, Cllr David Cox and Cllr David Weekes, were cleared of misconduct after a nine-month long investigation. A specialist solicitor, Graham Rowe of Ashfords Solicitors, was appointed to investigate claims by town councillor Chris Whitlock that his council colleagues failed to declare an interest in budget talks relating to regeneration. Cllrs Cox and Weekes have links with the town's regeneration committee. But both have been given the all clear after it emerged that both left early during one of the meetings when the budget vote had taken place. And even if they had voted, there would still be no case to answer. But the case is yet to be finalised at the Teignbridge Council standards committee meeting on Tuesday. Cllr Connett has written to the Standards Board chairman Sir Anthony Holland with his general concerns that damaging allegations can be made in public with procedures in favour of the complainant. He said: 'The board has a most onerous task, but it does seem that frivolous and vexatious complaints continue to be made to the board so consuming time and resources perhaps better directed to more serious issues and investigations. 'We are concerned that councillors can be caught in a process of continual complaint and explanation, so at what point does the Standards Board conclude that a complainant is vexatious and decline to pursue matters further?' he asks. Cllr Connett also asks for a crackdown on publicity complainants who go to the media first. 'It seems that the only reason for doing this would be to attempt to tarnish the reputation of an elected member. 'Ought not the Standards Board decline to investigate those cases?' Cllr Cox has called for Cllr Whitlock to pick up the bill himself, instead of the taxpayer. Solicitors fees cost £1,650 but could be more if the time of the district authority, town council and initial investigations are added. Cllr Cox said: 'I always believed there was no foundation to the allegations and that both David and I would be vindicated. 'However, this action will presumably have cost thousands, huge amounts of time and energy and for what was a petty and ridiculous set of complaints designed, in my view, to do nothing other than throw mud at two hard working local councillors.' 'Perhaps the town councillor who made the complaint will offer to pay back the cost of this investigation so it's not left to the local council taxpayers.' Cllr David Weekes added: 'There is just so much to be done in Teignmouth in terms of building up the town, regenerating our economy and tackling social exclusion that is it hugely disappointing that hours of time and significant sums of money have been frittered away because of these complaints which were always without foundation,' he said. The Standards Board for England at first decided not to investigate the complaint. It was referred to be dealt with locally after appeal. Cllr Whitlock said that he acted in good faith and was not seeking publicity in the complaint. 'I acted in good faith and based on advise that I had been given that the safest course of action for Teignmouth members would be to declare personal interests in Regeneration Committee matters.'
