News / Commission clears Sandy and Josie
SHETLAND Islands Council’s two senior politicians have been exonerated by the Standards Commission for Scotland over a complaint they made against a fellow councillor.
In October 2009 SIC convener Sandy Cluness and vice convener Josie Simpson submitted a complaint against Lerwick South member Jonathan Wills over comments he published about an investigation into former SIC chief executive David Clark.
Dr Wills’ comments concerned an investigation intohis allegations that Mr Clark had threatened him with violence, stating that the investigation process had been flawed.
Mr Cluness and Mr Simpson signed a complaint along with three senior officers – Mr Clark, services executive director Hazel Sutherland and chief legal officer Jan Riise.
Dr Wills was cleared of any wrongdoing, and issued his own complaint against the convener and vice convener for using public funds to pay for the complaint against him.
On Thursday Dr Wills wrote to Mr Cluness and Mr Simpson saying he had been informed by the Standard Commission’s chief investigating officer that the pair had not breached the councillors’ code of conduct.
He wrote: “I unreservedly accept his verdict that you acted ‘in good faith’, following ‘clear advice’, although my personal opinion remains that some of the advice you received was flawed and partial.
“You will note that the Chief Investigating Officer appears to agree with me when he says ‘one might expect’ such a complaint to be authorised by the council or one of its committees before being lodged with the Ethical Standards Commission.
“Such authority is, of course, explicitly required by the relevant regulations but you have yourselves already conceded that the complaint was not made on behalf of the council.
“I’m sure we can all draw lessons from this unpleasant episode and share the hope that nothing like it ever happens again in our council.”
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