LEADING Peterborough councillors have rejected a call to stand down in the wake of concerns about multi-million pound plans to build a waste-to-energy centre.
Peterborough City Council is poised to build its own £58 million state-of-the-art waste-to-energy recycling centre, in Storeys Bar Road, Fengate, and is currently tendering for a partner with the expertise to help construct the venture.
Council leader Councillor Marco Cereste is also a director on the board of Peterborough Renewable Energy (PREL), which has just been given the go ahead by the Government to build a separate £250 million energy-from-waste centre, also on Storeys Bar Road. And council cabinet member John Holdich is father-in-law to PREL managing director, Chris Williams.
Now English Democrat councillors, Stephen Goldspink and Graham Murphy, have called on Cllr Cereste and Cllr Holdich to stand down from their leadership positions until the tendering process has been completed at the end of next year.
They say it should be clear there are no conflicts of interest in the council's dealings over the proposed energy centres. Cllr Goldspink said: "It seems only reasonable to assume they would consider their own positions.
But Cllr Cereste said: "I am not in the slightest bit interested in the council incinerator and my company hasn't or will not be bidding for it. I am not doing anything wrong, nor am I hiding anything from anyone, neither will I be standing down as leader."
In a statement, a council spokesperson said: "It is disappointing that two members of the council have chosen to attack the council and its officers in this way. The inference that members have not properly registered interests is misinformed and misleading. All members of the council are fully aware of their obligations under their Code of Conduct and their need to comply with it and the sanctions that may be imposed on them if they do not do so. Part of the Code requires them to register and declare certain personal interests they have and to consider whether at any time if they may prejudicial when dealing with any of the council's business.
"Members are acutely aware of this obligation and conscientious in doing this and checking the situation if they are in any doubts. To be clear, Councillor Cereste has always been open about declaring that he is a Director of PREL both in the register of members' interests and generally to avoid any confusion or allegations such as this. Councillor Holdich has also been open about fact that his son in law is managing director of PREL.
Plans for Peterborough City Council's recycling centre.
However, his particular interest is not required by law or the Code to be registered as a personal interest in the Members' register but under paragraph 8 (1) (b) of the Code he has to declare it whenever relevant business is to be discussed.
"Neither Councillor Cereste or Councillor Holdich are, or will be involved, in making any decisions affecting PREL.
"In fact, Councillor Lee as the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment Capital and Culture is taking the lead on any such matters.
"The council is not refusing to acknowledge that a problem might exist. Quite simply, there is not a problem to address and all relevant steps are being taken to ensure the decision making and process are all robust and legal.
