Conservative Councillor Capon Conduct Code Censure

Former Hythe Town Councillor and current Kent County Councillor Christopher Capon has been found to have breached the Councillors Code of Conduct THREE times by the Standards Committee at Shepway District Council. The Conservative Hythe Councillor was censured by the committee, which was the only punishment open to them.

In July 2006 Cllr Capon at a Charity Trustees meeting of Hythe Council made remarks directed towards the Town Clerk. Hythe Town Council resolved to direct the then Mayor, Cllr Neil Matthews, to make an official complaint to the Standards Board for England about Cllr Capon's behaviour.

The Standards Board for England handed the case to the Monitoring Officer, at Shepway District Council, for investigation. Despite the case being mislaid causing Neil Matthews to complain of Shepway's maladministration and lack of governance, to the Standards Board, the District Auditor, the Chief Executive of the Council and the Local Government Ombudsman, the case was finally heard on the 20th February 2008.

At the hearing, lasting over 3 hours, Cllr Capon was found not to have upheld the Councillors' Code of Conduct on 3 counts.

• Councillor Christopher Capon failed to treat other with respect - Code 2(b)
• Councillor Christopher Capon actions compromised the impartiality of those who work for the authority - Code 2(c)
• Councillor Christopher Capon acted in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute - Code 4

As Cllr Capon is not currently a Hythe Town Councillor the degree of penalty was restricted to a 'censure' - the only punishment open to the committee.

Former Mayor Neil Matthews said:

"I'm delighted with the decision. Cllr Capon was extremely discourteous to the Town Clerk, who, at the time was undertaking a difficult task on behalf of the Council. This censure clearly sends a correct signal that this kind of behaviour just can not be tolerated - Cllr Capon's actions, in my opinion, were outrageous."

Councillor Code of Conduct:

2. A member must -

(b) treat others with respect; and

(c) not do anything which compromises or which is likely to compromise the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, the authority.

4. A member must not in his official capacity, or any other circumstance, conduct himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute.