Questions are being raised in Bracknell over who knew about safeguarding concerns around taxi driver and mayoral consort Diwan Khan before he was convicted of child rape.
Local leaders say the public protection partnership raised worries in January 2024 - six months before Khan was convicted and sentenced to 12 years at Winchester Crown Court. He had been licensed to drive taxis in Bracknell and was serving as Mayoral Consort while his mother, Naheed Ejaz, was mayor.
Details were kept confidential at the time to avoid jeopardising any prosecution. That has left an MP, councillors and party groups arguing over who was told what and when.
Former MP James Sunderland said he was not informed and claimed: "Not a word was shared with me during 2023 and 2024, despite regular engagement with senior Labour figures."
Council leader Councillor Helen Purnell replied that group leaders were briefed as soon as the council learned of Diwan Khans arrest. She said: "We were first told about Diwans arrest on the 12th of January 2024. The then leader [Cllr Mary Temperton] insisted on briefing opposition leaders. Bracknell Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens were told as soon as we found out."
Purnell added: "When this shocking information came to light, Diwan was immediately removed as Mayoral Consort, and as information now in the public domain makes clear, his mother stepped back from her Mayoral Duties." She said the briefing was private and confidential and that councillors are bound by that rule.
Conservative group leader Cllr Gareth Barnard said he could not share the confidential briefing and demanded a public correction from Cllr Purnell. He said: "Let me be clear, I am not responsible for the actions of others in this matter. However, I do expect the leader of the council to uphold the constitution of our organisation."
After unsuccessfully seeking a resolution, Cllr Barnard said he has made a formal code of conduct complaint and added: "Consequently, having tried to seek a resolution over a number of weeks, I have no alternative but to make a formal code of conduct complaint against Cllr Purnell. After two plus weeks of this I have had enough."
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
