Councillors Rupert Perry and Paul Convery cleared over ‘disrespect’ claim

Published: 1st April, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

TWO Labour councillors have been cleared of misconduct after an investigation by the Town Hall’s ethical watchdog following a row over a disused building.

Rupert Perry and Paul Convery, Islington Council’s planning chief, had written about the National Heritage and Tourism Library on their website just before last year’s elections.

The councillors, who represent Caledonian ward, had demanded the building at 315 Caledonian Road be brought back into use, writing: “[It] is not simply an eyesore but a daily reminder that this neighbourhood lacks a good high street community centre.”

They added that the building had become “severely dilapidated” and that if they were elected to the Town Hall they would take legal action to bring the building back into use.

Cllr Perry added that he believed the building had been disused for 20 years.

The article prompted a complaint to the Standards Board by the Underdog Trust, which owns the building. Trustee and founder of the charity Marg McNiel complained that the building was still being used by a photographic survey charity and that the councillors had breached the code of conduct by publishing incorrect information. 

Town Hall watchdog David Daniels concluded, however, that the article had not breached the standards code as the councillors had substantiated their allegations or spoken in good faith. “Most of the article simply states the facts regarding the use of the building and administration of the charity as substantiated or reasonably believed by Councillor Convery and Councillor Perry. Accordingly, I conclude that the contents of the article were not such as to constitute a failure to treat Mr McNiel with respect,” he wrote in a draft report seen by the Tribune.

Cllr Perry said that now the investigation was over work could begin on bringing the building back into use.

“It would make a very good community centre,” he added.

Mr McNiel could not be contacted at the time of going to press. 

A separate complaint about Labour councillor Gary Doolan was also considered on Monday night but has yet to be resolved.