An East Riding of Yorkshire standards sub committee will take no further action after a complaint was lodged against an ex-mayor of Driffield.
The complaint was submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire Council by Driffield Town Councillor David Credland, alleging Councillor Joan Cooper had made improper use of her position as mayor of Driffield in airing her comments concerning capital punishment, to the press.
In an interview with the Times & Post reported on Thursday 28 March, Coun Cooper, who was then mayor of Driffield, voiced her personal opinion that capital punishment should be reinstated in this country.
“Bring back hanging - so long as you know they are guilty,” said Coun Cooper in the article which also considered views on the issue from members of the public and the Rev Robert Amos of Driffield Methodist Church.
It was decided no further action would be taken against Coun Cooper at a meeting of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Standards Committee Assessment Sub-Committee, on Wednesday 8 May.
The decision notice, presented to town councillors at its meeting on Wednesday 4 June, said: “Whilst Councillor Cooper may have made the comments there is no indication that she was acting in her official capacity as Mayor of Driffield.
“Even if Councillor Cooper had been acting in her official capacity there is nothing wrong in her expressing a view on an issue.
“The issue discussed was not one being considered by Driffield Town Council.
“The article appears to be one where the newspaper has solicited views from a number of sources rather than being a report from an event at which Councillor Cooper was present.”
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