A COUNCILLOR has been warned he risks losing the right to give evidence at a tribunal investigating allegations of misconduct against him.
Mostyn councillor Patrick Heesom was absent due to ill-health as the adjudication panel resumed yesterday after a five-month break at the Beaufort Park Hotel, Mold.
He stands accused of six breaches of the councillors’ code of conduct, one of which concerns his conduct towards Flintshire Council’s former director of community services, Susan Lewis.
The tribunal, which started in January last year, has heard from a total of 47 witnesses.
Head of the panel Hywel James said the tribunal had been halted due to Cllr Heesom’s health.
In a written statement read out by Mr James it was stated that Cllr Heesom, who has not yet given evidence, first fell ill in September, saying the tribunal was oppressive due to its long hours.
But Mr James rejected the claims, saying the tribunal had been on break from July to September and had sat for around 16 hours in the week leading up to Cllr Heesom’s illness.
There were a number of attempts to reconvene the panel throughout November, December and January with the panel asking for an independent medical assessment.
Medical evidence for Cllr Heesom has come through his GP but the panel said it was “vague” and “brief”.
Mr James said if no independent medical evidence were produced, Cllr Heesom could be seen to be showing a “wilful refusal” to provide it and he may lose the chance to testify.
The tribunal will now reconvene in March.