Abstaining is one thing, but aggressively promoting and encouraging other Aldermen to support a Development is quite another.
We elect Aldermen to give a balanced view, impartiality is critical, and the public interest is paramount.
So when an Alderman has a pecuniary interest, that declaration and the duty to abstain is clear.
If an Alderman is a good mate of someone employed by a party associated with an application, the duty to abstain is not there, but in this instance, the subject Alderman went beyond reason in speaking to the motion and did not indicate any preferential connection or knowledge.
In a place such as Launceston, there are many close and personal connections. That is natural, normal and cannot be avoided. But for that reason, practicing independence and impartiality is so much more important and important to be seen to be practiced, not concealed.
When the subject Alderman was approached and responded to FELO members, he should have indicated that he had already been approached or made aware of the situation by promoters (if this indeed had occurred). We are entitled to expect high standards from our Aldermen, but sadly we are becoming accustomed to that not being the case and we all too often accept that diminished standard.
The poor standard shocks us when that standard is below our own. On the other side, we are criticised and sometimes some of us are penalised, humiliated and derided for standing up for our beliefs.......the P &F Executive have been shockers at that.
Whilst we must never be tempted to lower ourselves to their appalling standards, it can be a human failing to do so.
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