THE CEO of a pharmacy service has been given assurances about their tenancy at a town council building in Newquay after a councillor was told he must apologise for making comments about the arrangement.

Town clerk Andy Curtis has written a letter to Nick Kaye, the CEO of Community Pharmacy Cornwall, stating its tenancy at the council’s property at Mount Wise made a valued “contribution” to the community.

It follows councillor Louie Gardner, the Cabinet member for the economy, being found to have breached Newquay Town Council’s code of conduct for implying on social media that Mr Kaye’s employee, mayor Drew Creek, has his own private office in the building, which is costing the local taxpayer £1,000 a week.

Mr Kaye asked the town council whether he should relocate the office he leases for Community Pharmacy Cornwall, an NHS body where Cllr Creek works as its chief operations officer.

He also asked the town council where Cllr Gardner’s comments fit into the Nolan principles, the standards people in public office should uphold, which include honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability, selflessness, openness and leadership.

Newquay Town Council discussed the issue at its meeting on Wednesday, March 5 after Mr Kaye asked whether he should be looking to move his business to a different site.

Mr Curtis read out a letter that will be sent to Mr Kaye, which stated: “The council appreciate the contribution your business makes to 28 Mount Wise and the wider community, and we value you as a tenant.

“As a commercial tenant, your presence supports the sustainability of this important building, and we recognise the role you and your employees play in Newquay’s business landscape.

“While the town council cannot comment on statements made by individual councillors, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and fairness in accordance with the Nolan Principles of public life.

“These principles guide the conduct of those in public office and underpin the ethical framework within which the council operates.

“The council acknowledges that public comments made by individual councillors, without formal input or approval from the council, represent their own personal views.

“Such statements do not speak for or reflect the position of the town council.

“We understand that this can sometimes be frustrating, and we assure you that the council remains impartial, professional, and committed to supporting all our tenants fairly.

“If you have concerns about statements made by a councillor, you may submit a complaint through the Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure, which is overseen by Cornwall Council’s monitoring officer.

“This process ensures that concerns are assessed fairly, independently, and in accordance with the standards expected of those in public office.

“More information on how to submit a complaint can be found via Cornwall Council’s website.

“Your tenancy at 28 Mount Wise is valued, and we would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your business location.

“If you would like to arrange a meeting, please do let us know.”