Deputy leader in cash gift probe

10.50.22am GMT Sat 31st Oct 2009

THE deputy leader of Blackpool Council is the latest Tory to face investigation over controversial donations to local Conservatives.

Coun Ian Fowler, who is also cabinet member for business services, has had two complaints made against him and referred to the sub-committee of the council's Standards Committee.

The complaints relate to the donation of £10,000 to Conservatives by Kensington Developments, which wants to build hundreds of new homes on land at Marton Moss.

One complaint has been lodged by former Liberal Democrat councillor Jon Bamborough, and the other by Coun Fowler's Tory colleague Jean Kenrick.

The complaints allege Coun Fowler has failed to uphold the council's Code of Conduct.

Mr Bamborough claims Coun Fowler must have known about the £10,000 donation to the Blackpool South Conservative Association and so was wrong to sign a letter saying he knew nothing about the gift.

He was one of 21 Conservative councillors who signed a letter in September to clear their names in connection with the tainted cash row.

Mr Bamborough said: "I'm told Coun Fowler proposed the accounts for Blackpool South Conservative Association and accepted them as a due record.

"He was also the agent for Ron Bell and the donations are shown to have gone into the fighting fund of the Parliamentary candidate. It's not appropriate to sign a letter saying you didn't know about something when you did."

Coun Fowler's fellow Waterloo ward councillor Tony Lee, who also signed the letter, has also been referred to the Standards sub-committee in connection with the same matter.

The Blackpool South Conservative Association received two donations of £5,000 from Kensington - the first in July 2008 and the other in May this year.

They sparked controversy because the house builder has applied for planning permission to build hundreds of new homes on Marton Moss.

The money was returned after an investigation found they had been "inappropriate" although the donations had been properly recorded.

The cash was described as "monies held on behalf of the Parliamentary candidate".

Coun Ron Bell, who is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservatives in Blackpool South, has been referred to the national Standards Board, along with his Tory colleague Coun Jim Houldsworth.

Coun Fowler said: "Because this is an ongoing investigation, I will be waiting for the outcome of that before I make any further comment."

Coun Lee is also waiting until the outcome of the investigation before making a comment.

Coun Kenrick, who is chairman of Blackpool South Conservative Association, was unavailable to comment. An inquiry by North West Tory chief John Walsh found that claims she had received the donations were "unfounded".

By Shelagh Parkinson Blackpool Eveniing Gazette 2009