• a brief report by NIGEL WARD.

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I am reliably informed that the twelve Defendants referred to in the Yorkshire Post article published on Bank Holiday Monday  (28th August 2017) have been identified as follows:

Councillor Stephen PARNABY [Con.] – Leader of the Council

After 20 years in his position, Councillor PARNABY has lately been beleaguered by allegations of impropriety, both in Planning matters and with regard to his failure to declare an interest in Arvarto Government Services Ltd, finally declared in July ’17.

Mr Nigel PEARSON – former Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service (ret’d 1st April 2017)

Mr Mathew BUCKLEY – Head of Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer

Mr Alan MENZIES – Director of Planning & Regeneration

Coincidentally, these latter three are Senior Officers against whom I have lodged Formal Corporate Complaints in regard to clear and distinct breaches of the Council’s Constitution. Imprudently, new CEO Mrs Caroline LACEY is presently evading her duty to process these Complaints.

Eight other Officers acting in the Planning & Regeneration,  Legal Services, Planning Enforcement and/or sundry related Departments of Service are also named in the letter of claim.

They are:

Mr Peter ASHCROFT

Ms Diane HAYDEN

Mr Des SIMMONDS

Mr Ray GIBSON

Mr Andrew WAINWRIGHT

Mrs Susan HUNT (wife of present Head of Planning Mr Stephen HUNT)

Mrs Michelle DUNN

Mr Paul ABBOTT

All of the Defendants are required, on pain of additional costs, to respond by 4:00pm on Friday 15th September 2017. It is thought likely that the Council’s insurers will have appointed external solicitors, no doubt at some considerable expense – to the taxpayer.

Meanwhile, Councillor Andy STRANGEWAY [Ind.] has called for ERYC to attempt a mediation settlement and for the immediate suspension (on full pay) of each of the Defendants.

• an “In My View” article by NIGEL WARD, reporting on the continuing efforts of developer Peter ROBINSON to raise an investigation into alleged misconduct on the part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader Councillor Stephen PARNABY [Con.].
  

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An Invitation to Lunch

Further to the series of ‘leaked’ letters from retired Cottingham developer Mr Peter ROBINSON, the following invitation to ERYC Councillors to join Mr ROBINSON for lunch (his treat), to present them with an opportunity to question him about his allegations, has appeared in the public domain, at Mr ROBINSON’s request:

Dear Councillors

INVITATIONS TO LUNCH

My recent seven letters have contained many allegations of wrongdoing by Councillor Parnaby and several council officers.

Those concerned have tried ignoring, misreading, and disdainful arrogance but have not been able to disprove or deny anything.

I attach for information Caroline Lacey`s letter dated 26 April, together with my two replies 27 April and 3 May. You will see that this situation has now progressed to the legal stages.

I am aware that most Conservative Councillors have remained detached, probably for varying reasons, however just in case any are of the opinion that there are any incorrect comments or misrepresentations in these letters or maybe you simply think  I`m wrong, I would like to offer you a chance to persuade me of this as my guest for lunch. I will even give you a two to one advantage.

The first person to contact me can chose where and I will invite another councillor from the Conservative group to join us.

Best Regards

Peter Robinson 

Here follows Mr ROBINSON’s attached letter 0f 26th April 2017 from ERYC Chief Executive Officer Caroline LACEY (to which he refers in the above letter), followed by Mr ROBINSON’s two response letters 27th April and 3rd May 2017 (also cited above):

The report from a hitherto unpublished source to which I referred in my article of 25th April 2017 is still to come. Stay tuned.