RON LIVERSEDGE

Ron Liversedge was banned from driving for 20 months after he failed a police breath test. He was also given a £500 fine and ordered to pay costs of £69 by Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court. Mr Liversedge was stopped by police who said they could smell alcohol on his breath and he was unsteady on his feet. He failed a breath test on the spot and was taken to St Mary's Wharf police station where the extent of his alcohol consumption was revealed by further tests.

Cllr Liversedge pleaded guilty to the charge and submitted a letter in mitigation to the magistrates. He also told the magistrates that his earnings could be affected by a driving ban saying, "There is a possibility that I would lose my main employment and that would affect my earnings." He was told that his ban would be reduced to 15 months if he successfully completed a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Feb/06)

Ron Liversedge was sentenced at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court to 100 hours of unpaid community work and was also banned from driving for a further 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £45 costs. Simon Stevens, mitigating for Mr Liversedge, said, "This offence was committed in a moment of madness." He added, "After working long hours he took the decision to move his car from private to public land and was caught by the police. It was not a planned offence." Mr Liversedge works full-time as a steward at Spondon Liberal Club in Moor Lane, and at the time of the offence, had been working 60 hours a week to make ends meet. Philip Hickson, leader of Derby City Council's Conservative group, said the outcome of the case was unlikely to affect Mr Liversedge's party membership. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Feb/07)

Derby city councillor Ron Liversedge was issued with a £35 ticket for failing to park his car in a designated bay at the Council House while attending a training session. He reportedly swore at council warden John Orme saying, "Am I not important? I'm a councillor. I am at a meeting and I shall get this cancelled anyway."

A standards committee meeting, which investigates breaches of the council's code of conduct, heard that on the day several vehicles belonging to councillors were not parked in bays and so a message was sent to them to move their vehicles. One vehicle was moved, but Mr Liversedge's car remained and so the council-employed parking attendant decided he had no option but to issue a ticket to Mr Liversedge's vehicle.

Mr Orme said the councillor continued to follow him around the car park and, when he decided to ignore him and talk to a member of the public, Mr Liversedge swore at him. The hearing was told that the four-letter offensive word was heard by members of the public, including children. Mr Liversedge denied using the offensive name and saying "Am I not important?", but said a heated exchange of words did take place, including some swearing.

In an interview with the Standards Board for England, Mr Liversedge said about the offensive name, "It's not the language I use in normal everyday life, so I certainly wouldn't do it on this occasion." During the incident, Mr Orme's supervisor, Ms Gerry McLeod, arrived and she said Mr Liversedge continued his tirade to her and several people expressed their disapproval about his language, attitude and behaviour.

After the incident, the parking ticket was cancelled by the council's deputy chief executive, Michael Foote, who also asked Mr Liversedge to apologise for his actions. But Mr Liversedge failed to apologise to Mr Orme until June this year. He did not apologise to Ms McLeod. Mr Orme referred the matter to the Standards Board for England, which investigates council conduct.

In his interview with the board Mr Orme said, "I mean, we all have bad days, don't we? If he'd apologised to me that would have been the end of it." At the hearing, Mr Liversedge said, "I have said there was nothing that warranted an apology, but after advice and to end the matter I wrote to Mr Orme. I understand that I caused him some upset, which is why I apologised at this late stage."

The standards committee found Mr Liversedge had breached the council's Model Code of Conduct twice. He had failed to treat others with respect and did something that compromised the impartiality of those who work for the authority. But the committee concluded he did not breach a clause which states members must not use their position to secure an advantage.

He was censured, told he must have further training in the code of conduct and was suspended for one week or until he apologised to Ms McLeod. He did this within two hours of the decision and so has been reinstated. Mr Liversedge refused to comment further. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph)