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| Sandwell councillor 'breached' code of conduct | Sandwell councillor 'breached' code of conduct |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A former deputy council leader has been found to have breached its code of conduct by trying to cancel parking tickets for family members. | A former deputy council leader has been found to have breached its code of conduct by trying to cancel parking tickets for family members. |
| The Sandwell Council misconduct hearing found Mahboob Hussain also broke rules in a sale of public toilets. | The Sandwell Council misconduct hearing found Mahboob Hussain also broke rules in a sale of public toilets. |
| It said the councillor "ignored" a £130,000 valuation and instead sold them for £35,000 to a family friend. | It said the councillor "ignored" a £130,000 valuation and instead sold them for £35,000 to a family friend. |
| Mr Hussain, who did not attend the hearing on medical grounds, said he had been "denied any natural justice". | Mr Hussain, who did not attend the hearing on medical grounds, said he had been "denied any natural justice". |
| The Oldbury councillor had denied any misconduct. West Midlands Police has also said there is "insufficient detail" to launch a criminal investigation in relation to the breach. | The Oldbury councillor had denied any misconduct. West Midlands Police has also said there is "insufficient detail" to launch a criminal investigation in relation to the breach. |
| The committee, headed by James Goudie QC, found the councillor had breached the code of conduct a total of 12 times. | The committee, headed by James Goudie QC, found the councillor had breached the code of conduct a total of 12 times. |
| In his summary after the three-day hearing, Mr Goudie said: "[Mr Hussain] comprised the integrity of other council officers by exercising complete control over the action of the sale of the toilet block. | In his summary after the three-day hearing, Mr Goudie said: "[Mr Hussain] comprised the integrity of other council officers by exercising complete control over the action of the sale of the toilet block. |
| "The councillor's actions brought the council into disrepute." | "The councillor's actions brought the council into disrepute." |
| Legal advice | |
| The allegations of misconduct were first investigated following the publication of the Wragge Report in 2016. | The allegations of misconduct were first investigated following the publication of the Wragge Report in 2016. |
| During the hearing, the committee heard how the councillor sold the three public toilet blocks to one of his family friends in 2012. | During the hearing, the committee heard how the councillor sold the three public toilet blocks to one of his family friends in 2012. |
| He also asked councillor officers to reduce and cancel a total of three parking fines for his wife and sons, the hearing was told. | He also asked councillor officers to reduce and cancel a total of three parking fines for his wife and sons, the hearing was told. |
| Two earlier scheduled hearings in August 2016 and March 2017 were called off following legal challenges. | Two earlier scheduled hearings in August 2016 and March 2017 were called off following legal challenges. |
| A hearing will be held in the coming weeks to decide what action should be taken against him. | A hearing will be held in the coming weeks to decide what action should be taken against him. |
| In a statement, Mr Hussain said he planned to seek legal advice on the decision. | In a statement, Mr Hussain said he planned to seek legal advice on the decision. |
| He continued to deny the claims and said he had fully intended to defend himself, when he was well enough to do so | He continued to deny the claims and said he had fully intended to defend himself, when he was well enough to do so |