Councillor apologises to leader over calls for resignation

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Monday, 14 October 2019 03:56

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

A leading county councillor has apologised to Herefordshire Council chief David Hitchiner for previous remarks calling him to resign.

Conservative group deputy leader Nigel Shaw told the full council meeting in July that coun Hitchiner should consider standing down because his address had been blacked out under legislation to protect people who could be subject to violence or intimidation.

He said at the time that it was a sad day for openness and transparency that the leader had his address redacted on the members’ list as it is close to the proposed Hereford southern link road.

However, coun Shaw has since become aware of the personal reasons for the redaction and has written to elected members of the local authority telling them he had personally apologised for his comments.

At the July council meeting, council solicitor Claire Ward told the committee that the register of interests information was redacted because of sensitive issues.

“I have considered the sensitive reasons why any records of a member have been redacted,” she said.

“In relation to a redaction, that doesn’t mean that the member doesn’t still hold that interest and will deal with the code in accordance with the requirements for each member here.”

Coun Hitchiner said he accepted the apology and said he acknowledge the ‘rough and tumble’ of political debate.

“Councillor Nigel Shaw has every right to raise any issue if he chooses to,” he said.

“This is an example of the old form of politics but I did enter politics and have to put up with the rough and trouble of it.”

Coun Hitchiner said since getting into local government his mantra has always been to put people before politics.

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