A COUNCILLOR at the centre of a disciplinary matter has hit back at the parish council taking measures against him.

Cllr Kenneth Stephens, 75, a retired engineer, believes there is confusion around the issue of councillors declaring an interest on matters that could affect them financially.

He says he wants clarity on the issue. He also says he wants to ensure that Treverbyn Parish Council is conducting its business correctly.

The council is taking disciplinary steps against Cllr Stephens who has been an independent councillor for around 14 months.

The council says Cllr Stephens has contravened the council’s code of conduct.

It says the councillor showed a lack of respect for others when he challenged the authority of the clerk and deputy clerk before a meeting over having to declare an interest.

The council also says that because Cllr Stephens stated in the meeting that he was making a declaration of interest “under duress” this could be perceived as implying harassment or intimidation.

The councillor is said to have further challenged the authority of the council chairman at the meeting and to have made ‘hearsay and irrelevant statements’.

The council believes Cllr Stephens’ conduct has brought himself into disrepute and his challenges to the clerks and chairman “could be reasonably regarded as to bringing the parish council into disrepute”.

He is also said to have tried to compromise the impartially of council officers.

In response, Cllr Stephens said: “I was told by Treverbyn Parish Council that I was being disciplined following a vocal disagreement at a meeting.

“I wanted to speak at the meeting on a pre-planning application for eight properties on a corner of the field used by Bugle Cricket Club.

“I was told by the council’s clerk David Stevens and deputy clerk Darren Hawken that I would have to declare an interest because I live in a property close to the field which could be affected by the application.

“Under the council’s standing orders, I should have been told, not by the clerks, but by the chairman Ann Roberts. This shows the council is not being run in a proper manner.

“I told the meeting that I was declaring an interest ‘under duress’. During discussions about the application, I was told I could not speak on the matter.

“The disciplinary process has moved forward with an informal meeting to try to resolve the issue. But I was unhappy with the way this meeting was handled.

“Consequently, the matter will now be heard by the Cornwall Council Monitoring Officer who can make a ruling.

“I want clarity on the declaring an interest issue.”

The parish council has said it would not be appropriate to comment further at present.