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Office Of Administration And Hearings

Media Statement

Written Decision Of The Hearing Panel Issued 18 November 2004

The Standards Commission for Scotland confirms its Hearing Panel finding that Councillor Terry Kelly breached the principle of leadership as set out in section 2 and the provisions as to General Conduct in the Chamber or in Committee as set out in section 3.14 of the Councillors Code of Conduct following the Council meeting on 29 January 2004.

1. The Hearing Panel considered that further to the accepted breaches of the Councillors' Code of Conduct by the Councillor Kelly that:-

i. It is wholly inappropriate for any Councillor to approach any member of the public in a "threatening and intimidating manner" - regardless of the provocation;

ii. That Councillor Kelly's conduct was, as narrated in the joint Statement of Facts, "inappropriate, improper and unacceptable";

iii. That Councillor Kelly's conduct has adversely affected the good standing of Local Government and Renfrewshire Council in particular; and

iv. that the actions of Councillor Kelly's, as accepted by him, strike at the root of the obligation of leadership of any Councillor, and further that his behaviour was wholly inappropriate and contrary to the behaviour that the Chair, fellow Councillors, Council Employees and any members of the public are entitled to expect in the Council Chamber.

Councillor Terry Kelly has been suspended from taking part in all meetings of the Council, its Committees and sub committees for a period of 6 weeks from Wednesday 1 December 2004, up to an including Tuesday 11 January 2005.

Councillor Kelly has received the Hearing Panel's written decision.

Case Reference: LA/R/46, 47, 52, 53 and 54

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