Cllr Alan Graves investigation cost revealed

Derby City Council has confirmed a two-year investigation into the conduct of a councillor and the now-leader of Derbyshire County Council cost more than £7,300 of taxpayers’ money.

Alan Graves, who is a city councillor for Alvaston, was found to have breached the authority’s rules at a hearing last month.

The cost of the investigation into the dispute, released following a Freedom of Information request, has been described as “ludicrous waste of time and money”.

Councillor Graves breached council rules by sharing confidential information in a video he posted on social media following a dispute with another councillor about an offensive Facebook post. But despite the breach, he did not face any punishment or sanctions.

The hearing was held the day after Councillor Graves was chosen as the new leader of Derbyshire County Council after Reform’s victory in the local elections.

The Freedom of Information request, submitted by a member of the public, asked the council for the full costs of the investigation.

The council replied back: “Direct external costs totalled £7,335.40. Indirect costs arising from officer time, as well as allowances payable to independent members of the standards committee have not been calculated.”

Last month the council defended the costs of the investigation after it was heard that around £5,000 was spent on the investigation.

A spokesperson said: “In the initial stages of this complaint, Councillor Graves questioned the impartiality of the monitoring officer, the standards process and senior officers. It was therefore appropriate to appoint an external third party to investigate the matter.

“Commissioning external legal advice where necessary is common practice in local government standards matters and falls within the monitoring officer’s statutory powers. Moreover, the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 requires local authorities to fund monitoring officers to fulfil their statutory duties, including upholding the highest standards of integrity among elected members.

“Therefore, the costs incurred were lawful and the hearing’s outcome, which found Councillor Graves breached the code of conduct, justifies the expenditure in this case.”

The cost of the investigation has been branded “a waste of money”.

Mr Graves, himself, told the hearing he was shocked to hear of the estimated costs to the council which were then around the £5,000 mark due to a solicitor being used.

He said: “Personally I was absolutely flabbergasted to be interviewed by an external solicitor who revealed the cost of their services was around £5,000. £5,000 at a time when the council is struggling with finances.”

Conservative group leader Councillor Steve Hassall said: “The Alan Graves hearing was a ludicrous waste of time and money. It clearly could have been resolved in a more pragmatic and cost-effective way.”