ESC cleared after "petty complaint"

Thursday 30 April 2020

The political members of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture have been cleared of breaching the States Members' Code of Conduct after a complaint against them was found to be of a minor nature and was not seen to bring the States into disrepute.

Former Deputy, Peter Gillson made the complaint, believing that all five of the political members of ESC had misled the public with by issuing incorrect information within a media release.

The information was relating to the number of parking spaces which could be available under planning laws at the two future Lisia School sites - the current Les Beaucamps and St Sampson's High Schools.

Mr Gillson felt ESC had breached parts 6 and 8 of the States Members' Code of Conduct which cover 'Personal Conduct' and 'Members' Conduct'.

Pictured: Mr Gillson based his complaint on what he deemed incorrect information which had been issued by ESC which misled the public. 

The Code of Conduct panel looked into the matter and has found the political members of ESC did not breach the Code.

It was decided "the matter was of a minor nature and could not be regarded as bringing the States into disrepute."

All five members of ESC; President Matt Fallaize, Richard Graham, Rhian Tooley, Mark Dorey and Peter Roffey, have been cleared and "the matter is therefore now closed".

Pictured: All five members of ESC have been cleared of breaching the States Members' Code of Conduct.

In response to the findings of the Code of Conduct panel, ESC President, Deputy Matt Fallaize said:

"This was a petty complaint. It is a shame when the time of the Panel is wasted on insubstantial complaints of this type, but I’m grateful to the Panel for considering the complaint thoroughly and reasonably. We all have many more important things to focus on in these challenging times."

Pictured top: The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, (l-r) Deputies Fallaize, Dorey, Tooley, Roffey and Graham.