ALLEGATIONS that Minehead town councillors Terry Venner and John Malin breached the authority’s code of conduct and “threatened the reputation of the town council” have been dismissed by West Somerset Council’s standards advisory committee.

And Cllr Venner, a former Minehead mayor, this week called on the town council for an apology for what he called “these unfounded allegations” and asked the district council why it took six months to process the inquiry.

He has also asked both the town and district councils to disclose the costs to the ratepayers of pursuing the complaint, which was sparked off by a Free Press report in April over heated exchanges at a town council meeting.

Cllrs Venner and Malin were subsequently reported to West Somerset Council, accused of breaking standing orders by providing the press with oral and written statements on several occasions in their capacity as Minehead town councillors.

At least one Free Press report was claimed to “threaten the reputation of the town council”.

In a letter of complaint seen by the Free Press and sent to district council monitoring officer and assistant chief executive Bruce Lang, Minehead mayor Cllr Jean Parbrook said: “Cllr Venner has become increasingly disruptive this year at council meetings.

“His behaviour stifles proper debate and demeans the council in front of the press and public.”

This week, Mr Lang wrote to both councillors saying that he could find no evidence that they had breached the town council’s standing orders relating to the press and media.

Full report in the Free Press (Oct 27)