Owen Temple

I’m sure you are frustrated not to be getting all the facts about the possible options for updating Consett’s ageing leisure facilities.

I can promise you that I am every bit as frustrated by having information that I ought to be able to share with you but am prevented from disclosing under legal threat.

I was so frustrated I wrote to the Legal Services Officer asking whether I could publish specific figures relating the project. This was the reply.

“The onus is upon a member to ascertain whether or not information that he/she proposes to publish  is both factually correct and does not disclose confidential information , this includes reports to Executive/Council which are exempt by virtue of the Local Government Act 1972( as amended). Paragraph 4 (a) of the  Members Code of Conduct sets out guidance in this regard.

As a member of the Council you will have received copies of any reports to the Executive /Council relating to the Consett Sports Village which will state whether or not the contents of those reports are exempt from publication .Similarly ,if you have received any other communications from the Council in this regard then it ought to be clear from those communications whether or not the information contained within that communication is confidential . I would suggest , therefore, that you examine any reports/communications for the purpose of establishing what information ,if any, you may publish.”

There’s helpful! It’s not quite as clear as the response I got back from the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors: ”Councillors have been disqualified for disclosure.”

Sadly, I can tell you that the report on Consett Sports Project scheduled for discussion and decision on Tuesday night’s full council meeting has its usual heading, ” Not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of The Local Government Act 1972 (As Amended).”

So there you have it. The councillor you elected to represent you and keep you informed is between a rock and a hard place. If I tell you what’s going on this time - I stand to be disqualified so I cannot do anything for you again. Alternatively, I can leave you in the dark now and hope that some time in the future I can do something useful for you. I’d be interested in your views.

Better still, bombard Derwentside District Council and the local press with demands that council decisions are taken openly with full disclosure of all the facts to you - the voters and council tax payers.