Councillors cleared of misconduct charges

TWO Adur Council cabinet members have been cleared of misconduct following an investigation that has lasted for almost nine months.

Pat Beresford and Keith Dollemore were accused of breaching the members’ code of conduct during and after a council meeting in November, 2013.

Sid Hilsum, then a Lancing parish councillor, accused the pair of subjecting him to a ‘vicious verbal attack’ when he spoke from the public gallery, and when he approached them after the meeting had ended.

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But the two senior councillors were found to have done nothing wrong by a panel of their peers.

Mr Dollemore said: “I am pleased the matter is now concluded. The enquiry etc. was a complete waste of public money and councillors’ time. I have always believed this was politically motived. Nothing I said or did was unreasonable.”

Mr Beresford said he agreed and had nothing more to add.

Dr Hilsum failed to turn up to the hearing, which was chaired by Liberal Democrat councillor and former mayor of Worthing Bob Smytherman.