A COUNCILLOR has been found not to have breached a code of conduct after an allegation she gave her own business a council grant.

Conservatives on Malvern Hills District Council have called for the suspension of independent councillor Beverley Neilsen who they say gave her own business a council grant.

However, the monitoring officer on the council said there had been no breach of the code of conduct.

Jeremy Owenson, who leads the Conservative Opposition at MHDC, has written to the leader Tom Wells asking him to suspend Ms Neilsen, the portfolio-holder for the Economy.

He said that at January’s Executive Committee, Cllr Neilson recommended that a grant be paid to Boundless Outdoors Ltd.

He said: “She is the Chairperson of the board of the company. 

"Councillors should not be involved in decisions in which they have an interest and should not be part of the process to grant money to their own businesses.

“Cllr Neilsen has been actively promoting another of her businesses recently, Ultra Light Rail Partners, and I was originally concerned that she may be using her position on the council to help that business.  However, a resident pointed out that her other business, Boundless Outdoors, had already received the grant from MHDC.

“Although it may be a small amount of money in this case, Councillors need to be transparent in their dealings.  The public needs to be certain that councillors are not abusing their position.  I have asked MHDC officer to investigate both these businesses, and I have asked Tom Wells to suspend Beverley while the investigation is underway.”

Councillor Neilsen, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “Cllr Owenson seems to be rather confused and is missing the central point.

“The Executive Committee did not approve the allocation of £1,935 to Boundless Outdoors. That decision had already been made last year by relevant officers using delegated powers in a decision in which I had no involvement.

“Having referred myself to the Monitoring Officer she has reviewed the situation promptly and informed me that there has been no breach of the code of conduct.”

A spokesperson from Malvern Hills District Council, said: “This matter has been investigated by the Monitoring Officer and it has been found that there has been no breach of the code of conduct by Coun Neilsen”.

Council Leader Tom Wells said: “I understand that the head of Legal Services has completed her investigation into this matter. As is usual, ahead of the Annual Meeting of the District Council in May, I shall be reviewing which councillors are given specific responsibilities for services.”