Taxi row planning chief Cllr Sean Hornby suspended
8:10am Thursday 5th March 2009 in Search Module By Saiqa Chaudhari
A SENIOR Labour councillor at the centre of a row over an illegal taxi has been suspended as Bolton Council’s planning chief.
Sean Hornby was removed from the position last night after it was revealed an inquiry into his conduct has been launched.
Labour Group boss and leader of the council, Cllr Cliff Morris, made the announcement, saying it was essential to maintain “integrity and honesty”.
He told a meeting of the full council, which Cllr Hornby did not attend, that the Labour Group took a stern view on issues of discipline.
Cllr Morris said: “Members of this chamber must uphold and be seen to uphold the dignity of their office as councillors. Probity, integrity and honesty are not just values we aspire to, but values we must put into practice in every aspect of our lives.”
Cllr Hornby, who will remain a beck bench councillor until the inquiry is concluded, received a caution last week after admitting using his car as a taxi without a licence, acting as a taxi driver without a licence, operating a car as a taxi without an operator licence and using his car as a taxi without the correct insurance.
The case had been set to go to trial, but was halted at the 11th hour when Cllr Hornby agreed to accept the caution.
Since then Cllr Hornby has faced calls to consider his position as a senior councillor. The decision to strip him of his title as chairman of the planning and highways committee, pending the outcome of the inquiry, was made at a private meeting of the Labour Group on Tuesday night.
Cllr Morris said last night he made the decision to protect the credibility of those in public office, adding: “The decision of the Labour Group, based on my recommendation, is that Cllr Hornby should stand down from the position he holds as chairman of the planning committee, pending the outcome of an investigation to ensure we understand the severity and complexity of the charges brought against him.”
Vice chairman of the planning committee, Mary Woodward, will assume the chair until the outcome of the inquiry, expected to last “a few weeks”.
Cllr Hornby, who was elected in 2006 to represent Little Lever and Darcy Lever, issued a statement last night. It stated: “I have been very proud of the two positions that this group had entrusted me to do and I believe I have done them to the best of my ability throughout. I have been and do remain loyal to the Labour Group of this council. “The three Taxi and Private Hire Associations that sit on the Licensing Consultative Panel have now written to the council expressing their full support of me and have asked for a full independent investigation into the whole handling of the issue. I understand also that drivers are now signing a petition of support.”
