Months of keeping an Isle of Wight housing councillor’s rental properties out of public view came under scrutiny at County Hall this week.
At Wednesday’s full council meeting (21st January), Cllr Geoff Brodie asked council leader Phil Jordan why law and procedure had not been “applied consistently” in relation to housing committee member and Reform UK councillor Caroline Gladwin and her rental property “portfolio”.
His comments followed a decision by monitoring officer Christopher Potter to ask Cllr Gladwin to provide a list of her current rental properties immediately, or by 31st January at the latest.
In an email to councillors, Mr Potter said he did not regard such interests as sensitive, contrasting with a view previously taken by interim monitoring officer Francis Fernandes.
Mr Fernandes had earlier stated that Cllr Gladwin had declared her rental properties to the monitoring officer, but that they had not been placed on the public register “because there’s an issue about sensitivity”.
Addressing the chamber on Wednesday, Cllr Brodie said greater transparency would allow Islanders to understand whether Cllr Gladwin holds a “vested interest” in council decisions she is involved in.
The Independent Socialist member for Pan and Barton was told by Cllr Jordan that the council had taken account of the monitoring officer’s decision.
Cllr Brodie said:
“Leader, I will presume you are as committed to the council and all your councillor colleagues being as transparent as possible in council decision-making as I am.
“You will also be well aware of the legal requirement for a full declaration of interest by each and every councillor for publication on the council website.
“Therefore, will you join me in welcoming and applauding the decision of the returning and substantive monitoring officer that Reform UK councillor Gladwin at last be required to reveal her portfolio of rental properties on the Isle of Wight?
“A requirement that will inform Islanders as to whether she has a vested interest in council decisions she is participating – a decision that should have been made at the time of councillor Gladwin’s election in May last year, eight months ago or soon after.”
Responding, Alliance group leader Cllr Jordan said:
“All councillors are required to declare interests in accordance with the council’s code of conduct and statutory requirements, and the monitoring officer is responsible for determining what must be declared and published.
“The council will continue to follow that process consistently and in line with the law.”
Cllr Brodie then pressed the issue further, asking why the law and procedure had not been applied consistently in May, and why the matter had only been resolved this month despite his objections being supported by 18 other councillors.
In reply, Cllr Jordan said:
“We have taken account of the monitoring officer’s decision. We did so then, we do so now and we move forward on the basis that the monitoring officer has made his decision on this.”
Cllr Gladwin was present at the meeting but did not publicly respond to Cllr Brodie’s questions, as they were directed to the leader.
She has been contacted for a comment.
Begs the obvious question “why is she so reluctant to declare this interest?” She is a member of the Housing Committee so of course it is germane.
If councilor Gladwin is not honest enough to do the right thing and declare her interests publicly then she does not have the integrity to hold office therefore she must go.
I am not a Reform supporter, never would be even if they paid me
to be!, but to be honest look at some of the MPs in the country.
I read recently 1 didn’t pay stamp duty, 1 didn’t pay landlord
licence fees and 1 didn’t pay their Council tax.
They are still MPs.
Look at all the self employed people in the country
working being paid in cash and not declaring their
earnings.
Nothing will change unless the country goes cashless
and digital ID’s are mandated.
Personally I don’t agree with digital ID’s and cash is king.
So nothing will change.
Totally agree she needs to be held accountable for this, as what else is or has she been hiding? In that kind of work she should know you have to be honest?
The headline claims ‘council row erupts’.
Did you forget to report the row? It appears to be a question to the leader, which the leader answered.