Accused councillor says it's all a witch-hunt (From Echo)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
Accused councillor says it's all a witch-hunt
7:00am Thursday 9th July 2009 in
AN OUTSPOKEN councillor facing disciplinary action over allegations he tried to influence planning decisions in favour of his developer friends claims he is the subject of a witch-hunt.
It is alleged Hadleigh Tory Bill Sharp, a freemason, failed to tell council officials of his friendships with multi-millionaire fellow mason Gordon Sanders and Susan King, a director of construction company Pemican.
Mr Sharp, a former chairman of the planning committee, attended meetings relating to planning applications from both developers back in 2007.
It was originally alleged by a council officer that he tried to influence council officers’ decisions.
A confidential report into the claims by the Standards Board for England, which investigates alleged wrongdoing by councillors, has been seen by the Echo.
See today's Echo for full details
Comments(27)
thentherewere4
says...
8:06am Thu 9 Jul 09
londoner
says...
9:26am Thu 9 Jul 09
bill sharp represents the people in his ward and is not afraid to speak against the officers if he believes he is right. yes witch hunt is the way I would read it .
merryrobots
says...
10:06am Thu 9 Jul 09
evilc wrote:Is Evil C obsessed with Canvey?
The Canvey Mafia.
Bill alias 'The God Father'
Gordon alias 'The Don'
Bandwagon Bob fell off the wagon.
Steve Phillips
says...
10:57am Thu 9 Jul 09
Perhaps ten years ago a local Councillor could ‘assist’ a planning application through the system but these days planning guidelines and the appeals process are much clearer and take authority away from individual Councillors and indeed planning committees and hand them to Council officers and upon appeal Government inspectors.
Although headlines of ‘Tory, Freemason & King’ are attention grabbing, overall this is a bit of a non-story!
purple rain
says...
11:08am Thu 9 Jul 09
Curbishly
says...
11:28am Thu 9 Jul 09
So which member of the Standards Committee leaked this report to the Echo.?
detective
says...
12:32pm Thu 9 Jul 09
londoner wrote:We can see through your disguise Londoner, you are Bill Sharp. Everyone knows that. Come on admit it and stop pretending some one else is defending you. What have you got to hide? Still up to your old tricks eh?
Has anyone been to a council meeting lately.there is no way that planning permissions can be bought. most of the decisions are made at officer level anyway. bill sharp represents the people in his ward and is not afraid to speak against the officers if he believes he is right. yes witch hunt is the way I would read it .
purple rain
says...
12:55pm Thu 9 Jul 09
upset
says...
1:13pm Thu 9 Jul 09
Is it not strange that the leaked document did not appear to name the officer in question!
It could have been a leaving present from Ian Burchill.
You know who your friends are Bill, lets hope they all stand by you at CPBC. If its a full council that reviews the situation, you stand a chance, if it just the cabinet members, they should consider their ability to doubt or pass judgement.
As they are passed friends and or enemies, they also have a conflict of interests, which is just what Bill was accused of.
detective
says...
1:15pm Thu 9 Jul 09
purple rain wrote:Sorry Bill, I forgot to say people know you are Londoner from your desk computer and Purple Rain from your Blackberry. No one is fooled (other than you.) Still up to your old tricks eh.
detective I don,t think so because I do know who it is ....do some real detective work and look into something worth knowing.. there is plenty to know beleive me ...... I think that you are Dave Blackwell he knows all the councillors and all about them...so you come clean we all know who you are!!!!
purple rain
says...
1:22pm Thu 9 Jul 09
detective wrote:what rubbish....you idiot good job you are not a real detective...you should either stop taking or start taking some medication..you are obviously "not right" in the head !!!
purple rain wrote: detective I don,t think so because I do know who it is ....do some real detective work and look into something worth knowing.. there is plenty to know beleive me ...... I think that you are Dave Blackwell he knows all the councillors and all about them...so you come clean we all know who you are!!!!Sorry Bill, I forgot to say people know you are Londoner from your desk computer and Purple Rain from your Blackberry. No one is fooled (other than you.) Still up to your old tricks eh.
upset
says...
1:36pm Thu 9 Jul 09
detective wrote:If your only judgement as to who people are reflect on negative or positive comments.
purple rain wrote:Sorry Bill, I forgot to say people know you are Londoner from your desk computer and Purple Rain from your Blackberry. No one is fooled (other than you.) Still up to your old tricks eh.
detective I don,t think so because I do know who it is ....do some real detective work and look into something worth knowing.. there is plenty to know beleive me ...... I think that you are Dave Blackwell he knows all the councillors and all about them...so you come clean we all know who you are!!!!
Your web name is a complete misrepresentation, you should be reported to trading standards.
Stop making stupid comments and put up or shut up.
bumper
says...
2:16pm Thu 9 Jul 09
purple rain
says...
2:26pm Thu 9 Jul 09
evilc
says...
3:07pm Thu 9 Jul 09
merryrobots wrote:Is that a question?
evilc wrote:Is Evil C obsessed with Canvey?
The Canvey Mafia.
Bill alias 'The God Father'
Gordon alias 'The Don'
Bandwagon Bob fell off the wagon.
marshman
says...
5:16pm Thu 9 Jul 09
A similar complaint (of masonic skullduggery)was upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman.
Sack him and ban him from holding office again.
marshman
says...
5:18pm Thu 9 Jul 09
merryrobots wrote:No.
evilc wrote: The Canvey Mafia. Bill alias 'The God Father' Gordon alias 'The Don' Bandwagon Bob fell off the wagon.Is Evil C obsessed with Canvey?
He just knows a little bit more than you do about Canvey politics.
ziggy123
says...
5:30pm Thu 9 Jul 09
ziggy123
says...
5:30pm Thu 9 Jul 09
ziggy123
says...
5:32pm Thu 9 Jul 09
detective
says...
6:02pm Thu 9 Jul 09
purple rain
says...
6:24pm Thu 9 Jul 09
ziggy123
says...
6:45pm Thu 9 Jul 09
marshman
says...
6:47pm Thu 9 Jul 09
ziggy123 wrote:x3 Then ask him why he was banned from doing business with the council Ziggy.
all rubbish bill is great and honest
If he's as honest as you're insisting he won't have any qualms in telling you will he.
Ello!
says...
9:23pm Thu 9 Jul 09
This story is boring.
I read the echo because I want to know about traffic hol-ups or minor collisions.
Julian Ware-Lane
says...
1:26pm Tue 14 Jul 09
press.com/2009/07/14
/tory-councillor-w-k
-sharp-suspended-for
-eight-weeks/
More Castle Point stories
- Bronze, silver and gold trees being planted in Castle Point to celebrate olympics
- Elderly had to pay twice for rubbish
- Stammer ruled my life – not anymore
- Firefighters tackle blaze outside Benfleet KFC
- Man cleared in child porn case on appeal
- Lorry overturned at busy road junction
- Council’s new homes plan will cost £250k
- My vow to get unfit drivers off our streets
- Not this way! There’s a bypass now for lorries
- Daughter backs memorial plans for WWII hero
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
evilc says...
7:25am Thu 9 Jul 09
Bill alias 'The God Father'
Gordon alias 'The Don'
Bandwagon Bob fell off the wagon.