A COUNCILLOR has been cleared of any wrong-doing when he used his position on Cheshire West and Chester Council to back a promotional event by the company which employs him.
Cllr Hugo Deynem, who represents Tarvin and Kelsall, was quoted in a council press release supporting an energy efficiency roadshow by EON in his capacity as climate change champion.
However, the release did not mention that Cllr Deynem is employed by EON as its residential energy sales manager which is declared in the council’s register of interests.
External investigator Mike Dudfield was asked to carry out an inquiry after complainant John Murray of Handbridge alleged Cllr Deynem brought the council into disrepute by failing to make clear his registered interest when the event was being promoted by the authority.
Cllr Deynem has supplied the Chronicle with Mr Dudfield’s executive summary.
The investigator said: “I conclude that there has been no failure by Cllr Deynem to comply with paragraph 6(a) of the Code of Conduct in that Cllr Deynem’s involvement in the issuing of the press release in March 2012 did not convey any advantage to himself or EON.”
Cllr Deynem previously explained that the event had not been about generating sales for a business but was about giving energy efficiency advice to the residents in Cheshire West.
He said he would have been happy to work with any energy supplier in a bid to try and meet government climate change targets.
Asked to comment on the findings, complainant Mr Murray declined because he had understood the report was confidential.
