A NEW code of conduct imposed by the government is gagging East Hampshire district councillors, claimed a former Petersfield mayor this week.
John Crowhurst, who is also a Petersfield town councillor, is furious after being banned from speaking at an EHDC development panel meeting.
He claimed he has been denied the right to represent the people of Petersfield who elected him. And he is urging East Hampshire District Council to press the government for changes to its conduct code.
Mr Crowhurst told The Herald this week: "My appointment to the development panel, which considers the allocation of housing sites, was agreed in May.
"However, when a private and confidential meeting was called recently to discuss allocations, I was given one day's notice that because of my perceived involvement through the town council I was barred from the meeting."
Mr Crowhurst claimed: "Not only could I not listen but I was barred from hearing about other sites in the district. It is suggested that I might influence other councillors in a way to benefit Petersfield."
East Hampshire District Council had adopted the national Code of Local Government Conduct, even though it had not finally passed through Parliament, said Mr Crowhurst, and he added: "I doubt many councillors realise the full impact of this - I did not."
He claimed the implication was that if a town or parish councillor was also a district councillor they could not give opinions on any issue which might be debated at district level.
"In doing this, they may be banned from speaking, voting or even attending a meeting."
Mr Crowhurst said his own problem arose because he had supported, since l992, Petersfield Town Council's land sale at Penns Field "for which the people or Petersfield will get huge benefits. It will be the people's money with the town council just the custodian."
A number of district councillors could find themselves in his position said Mr Crowhurst, if they promoted a school site, a playing field or had objected to a housing site in favour of another.
"They could be barred," he said. "This is a ridiculous situation. EHDC must take it up with the government. It must defend the right of councillors to represent their electorate and for the electorate to be properly heard."
Leader of East Hampshire District Council, Elizabeth Cartwright, said: "John Crowhurst is deeply involved in Petersfield Town Council and the town council is putting forward a site for the local plan allocation in which John has been very much involved.
"As a result of this, the council felt that he should not be involved in the allocations because, however he did it, he could be perceived by the public and the developers to be trying to promote the Petersfield site.
"The council took counsel's opinion and this totally supported the stance of the council, which was that he should not take part because in the eyes of the public he could be perceived as biased ."
Mrs Cartwright said the national code of conduct meant that district councillors did have to be careful.
But she added: "In this instance it was different, because John is involved with a site which belongs to Petersfield Town Council."