AN INVESTIGATION into alleged discrimination against a local woman by Looe councillors has cost taxpayers £57,000, it has been revealed.

Nine out of the 15 members of Looe Town Council were investigated by local government watchdog, Standards for England, for alleged discrimination against Kathrina Ring.

All nine members were this week cleared of any breach of conduct, but a Freedom of Information Act request by the council has shown the investigation cost £47,000.

This included costs for spending by investigators, an ethical standards officer, lawyers and other staff. Looe Town Council also spent approximately £10,000 of its money providing the required information for the inquiry.

Pleased

The complaint had been made by Kathrina Ring, described as a member of the public of Irish traveller ethnicity. She had levelled a series of allegations against councillors concerning planning applications and her attempt to become a councillor.

A spokesperson for Looe Town Council said: "We are very pleased to acknowledge that all councillors involved in the recent code of conduct investigation have been completely cleared of any breach.

"We are however extremely alarmed at the cost of this investigation which is approximately £47,000."

The complainant alleged that councillors Michael Joy, James Dingle, Kim Smith and Brian Galipeau failed to treat her with respect and intentionally discriminated against her and her family for reasons of race or for private gain. All councillors denied the allegations.

Mrs Ring also alleged the same councillors made racist remarks about her application to be co-opted onto the town council: this was also denied.

Unfair

She further alleged councillors Kim Smith, James Dingle, David Bryan, Barbara King, David Welch, Armand Toms and Martin Gregory, as members of the co-option panel, improperly prevented her co-option by means of an unfair and discriminatory co-option process.

All councillors denied any discriminatory conduct.

In the case summary from Standards for England, the report said the complainant alleged councillors improperly objected to planning applications and that disrespectful comments had been made about her and her family at council meetings.

The ethical standards officer said in the case summary councillors were acting in their official capacity at all relevant times. The officer found no evidence of derogatory remarks made at meetings and that councillors' objection to planning applications were for reasons of race.

The officer also found no evidence of discrimination relating to the complainant's co-option and said it was a fair process.

In conclusion, the officer found members had not failed to comply with the code of conduct.

Mrs Ring refused to comment, but her husband Bradley Ring said: "I have spoken to our lawyer and he is looking into it and I won't be surprised if a civil law suit is brought.

"I advise anyone not to go to the Standards for England as it is a waste of public money."