Councillor Accuses Council of Witch Hunt

A prominent Sandhurst town councillor has criticised Bracknell Forest Council for scheduling a misconduct hearing on a date his solicitor can't attend.

John Edwards, an Independent councillor for Owlsmoor and Reform UK campaign manager, became a focal point after raising concerns about the former Grange Hotel being used for Afghan families. That prompted complaints and an investigation into his conduct.

Edwards says the council picked a hearing date his barrister cannot make. He added:

"They threatened it before, but now it's official.

"The council has chosen a date for my hearing that they know my barrister cannot attend.

"And what is the hearing about?

"Telling residents the truth about an Afghan resettlement hotel.

"The information I released was not confidential. It was firmly in the public interest. Yet the council is continuing to pursue me and has now instructed external solicitors.

"This is YOUR money they are spending.

"The last figure I obtained under a freedom of information request (FOI) showed more than £16,000 had already been spent on the case against me. With external solicitors now involved, that bill will only rise.

"All to pursue an elected councillor for telling residents something they had every right to know.

"At some point, Bracknell Forest Council and its senior leadership will have to explain why they have spent taxpayers' money pursuing what increasingly looks like a procedurally unfair and anti-democratic witch hunt."

Edwards is backed by the Free Speech Union. He told the FSU he was cleared by an independent investigator but still faces an allegation of bringing his councillor role into disrepute. A private hearing will decide whether he breached the councillor code of conduct; the outcome will be published afterwards.

Bracknell Forest's chief executive, Susan Halliwell, said:

"One of Bracknell Forest Council's roles is to assess and, if appropriate, investigate and decide on complaints that councillors have failed to follow the code of conduct. This includes town and parish councillors for the area.

"The council received a complaint about a member of Sandhurst Town Council, which it referred for independent investigation. Subsequently, the council has arranged a hearing panel, made up of cross-party councillors and an independent co-opted person, to consider the investigation report and the councillor's representations.

"The council considered a number of factors when arranging a date for the hearing, including when those involved and their representatives were available. The council's understanding is that the Sandhurst Town councillor has secured alternative legal representation for the proposed date. The council has sought further clarification from the councillor on that point.

"The council seeks to conduct hearings with fairness and independence. The hearing will consider any allegation of unfairness raised during the process.

"The outcome of the hearing will be made public. As the process is ongoing, we will not be commenting any further."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter