Shropshire Star

Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow apologises for breaking rules

The leader of Shropshire Council has apologised after being found to have breached the authority's code of conduct.

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Councillor Keith Barrow will now undergo code of conduct training after a standards sub-committee ruled that he failed to formally disclose a conflict of interest at meetings of the board of Shropshire Council company, ip&e.

The conflict related to Councillor Barrow's failure to disclose a personal and business relationship with a director of the company which was appointed as accountants and auditors of ip&e.

The council confirmed that Councillor Barrow had resigned from his position as a director of ip&e and that the authority will now look to appoint a chairman independent of the council.

Council spokesman Gareth Profitt, in a statement issued on behalf of the authority, said: "Members expressed concern regarding the seriousness of the matters which were highlighted during the investigation.

"They considered that Councillor Barrow ought to have been aware of the need to disclose his interests in all matters whilst conducting the business of the authority.

"In accordance with the council's procedure for the resolution of findings of a failure to comply with the code of conduct, members of the sub-committee were satisfied that the proposed apology and commitment of Councillor Barrow to undertake training represented a reasonable outcome without the need to hold a formal hearing."

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