CONFLICT OF INTEREST - SURELY NOT ???

Dear Residents,

How much longer can all of this go on ? We all know that Councillor David Monk doesn't represent the decent people of Shepway. We all know that he twists the words of honest Parish Councillors for his own self interests. Is there anyone out there that would still vote for this individual on the 4th May. If you live in Folkestone West and have the right to vote, for heavens sake DO NOT VOTE FOR HIM.

Here's what our friends at Shepwayvox have to say about the (so called) Leader of Shepway District Council:

Cllr "Dodgy David" Monk & A Planning Application. You Decide.

Posted on March 29, 2017 // 6 Comments

On Febuary 28th 2017 at the civic centre Cllrs met to vote on planning issues. One of the planning applications to be decided upon that evening was   Y16/0623/SH: Little Densole Farm, Canterbury Road, Densole, where 12 holiday lodges along with a tennis court etc are to be sited in an Area Of Outstanding Natuaral Beauty (AONB); which was second item on the agenda.  Little Densole Farm and the land where the lodges (pictured below) are to be sited are owned by Mr & Mrs Westgarth

Planning Application Y16/0623/SH  is for the siting of 12 holiday lodges, and erection of a reception building and a store building, together with formation of a fishing lake, a car park area, tennis courts, a children's play area, and a putting green, to create a tourism site (pictured above).

Mr & Mrs Westgarth own a company called MILLDOWN ASSOCIATES LIMITED; who have a legally outstanding mortgage on 23 Minter Avenue Densole according to Companies House. Now 23 Minter Avenue Densole (see No 4 – Land) is the home address given by Cllr David Drury Monk  (pictured) the leader of Shepway District Council. So the owners of Cllr Monk's home, according to Companies house apply for planning permission and low and behold they get it.

Cllr David Godfrey (pictured below) spoke in support of the planning application and Cllr Dick Pascoe (pictured below) basically told the planning officers to overturn their reccomendation to refuse.  As we said Planning permission was granted, but then is that any surprise to you, when the Westgarth's own Cllr Monk's home according to Companies House, which as we said, has an outstanding mortgage on it.

  

Did Cllrs Pascoe & Godfrey know about the mortgage and the connection between Cllr Monk and Mr & Mrs Westgarth?  What do you think?

Under Shepway District Council's code of conduct, Cllrs must act in conformity with the  Seven Principles of Public Life.  One of these principles is Integrity – that 'Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefit for themselves, their family or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interest and relationships'

Has Cllr Monk compromised his intergrity?

 Another of these principles is Honesty which states:

"Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest."

Has Cllr Monk compromised his honesty?

It may well appear to a reasonable person that Cllr David Drury Monk, has let his intergrity and his honesty slip somewhat. This is a man who will stand in the forthcoming KCC elections on May 4th 2017. Is this a man who should even be allowed to stand, when the evidence before you clearly indicates he may have breached two of the principles of Public Life. Would any reasonable person now think that there is not just one Dodgy Dave  in the Tory party but two? We'll leave you to decide that.

Shepwayvox Team