HARDIAL SINGH DHAMRAIT

Hardial Singh Dhamrait, a Labour member for the Sinfin ward, was investigated for allegedly trying to influence a council decision in which he had a personal interest. It followed an investigation by the Standards Board for England into allegations by a member of the public that Mr Dhamrait had failed to declare an interest and "sought improperly to influence a decision on the matter".

The inquiry was conducted by an ethical standards officer from the Standards Board, the body that investigates allegations of unethical conduct in local government. The officer referred his evidence to the city council's standards committee, which will decide whether there has been a breach of the authority's Code of Conduct.

Labour leader Chris Williamson said that the allegation related to a planning application which was considered by the planning control committee, of which Mr Dhamrait was a member at the time. Mr Williamson said, "If there was a fault, it was that he didn't seek clarification on whether he needed to declare that he lived in the vicinity of the application."

He added, "But, he didn't vote on the matter and felt he had done as much as he needed to by abstaining. It's arguable whether there was an interest that needed to be declared." The standards committee is comprised of three councillors and four members of the public and has the power to suspend a member of the council for up to three months.

A report by ethical standards officer Nick Marcar revealed that the application related to the development of a site in Chain Lane, Littleover, which partially borders Mr Dhamrait's Burton Road home, although there is another property in between. The report says Mr Dhamrait, who was then a member of the planning control committee, spoke on issues relating to the development during the meeting without declaring an interest.

He told the investigation he did not believe he had a personal interest. But Mr Marcar concluded, "Councillor Dhamrait sought improperly to influence a decision about the development application by staying in the meeting and participating in the committee's discussion."

The report will be considered by the council's standards board when it will decide whether or not to take any action against him. It can suspend councillors for up to three months. Mr Dhamrait said, "My conscience is clear. I still feel I have done nothing wrong. I'm more a community worker than a professional politician."

Hardial Singh Dhamrait faced a hearing of the council's standards committee, which agreed he had failed to comply with the code of conduct and censured him, which means he will be reprimanded in a letter, which will be published in the press.