Have I given you permission to film?". Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. There is no evidence Mr Hussain "obtained any advantage" and Mr Jones was a "passive bystander", said the QC, It is likely confidential information was shared by Mr Hussain with his son Azeem Hafeez before Mr Hafeez submitted a bid for the former coroner's office, the day before the property was advertised by the council, It is alleged Mr Hussain "persuaded" the council to seek to a buy a strip of land, which he knew was owned by his son - who also previously worked for the council - and the relationship was not revealed, The QC also said Mr Hafeez "appeared to have done nothing" to declare his interest as an employee or Mr Hussain's son, which allegedly breached Section 117 of the Local Government Act 1972 [on disclosure by officers of direct or indirect pecuniary interests] and the council's Officer Code of Conduct and meant "disciplinary action" was required. Councillor Maria Crompton It is also understood that two other Sandwell councillors - including a cabinet member - have been suspended by the Labour Party. Read about our approach to external linking. It comes after Councillor Melia, who is aged in his 70s and represents Great Barr with Yew Tree, knocked a phone out of the hands of a blogger and protester who was filming elected members entering a council building. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He said he had not been consulted and had not been aware of the price. Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article. In August, the Labour Party said it took "all complaints of racism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken". You'll need photo ID to vote at a polling station at the Local Elections on Thursday 4 May Steve Eling resigned as Sandwell Council leader on Wednesday, three weeks after his suspension.. A new leader will be formally elected in March and Mr Eling said he will continue to serve his ward, Abbey. Read about our approach to external linking. Gulshan Tabassum is expected to take her place, making way for Councillor Eaves to stand in Princes End. Three leaders have tried and failed to resolve political infighting within Sandwell Labour since the death of another former leader Darren Cooper in 2016, but it's had no impact at the ballot box, with the party holding 68 of the 72 available seats. Read about our approach to external linking. Princes End: Gulshan Tabassum *standing in Wednesbury South and replaced by Susan Eaves. Councillor Joanne Hadley, cabinet member for safer communities who represents Great Bridge ward, has been suspended following allegations of racism, the Express & Star understands. More corruption? He declined to comment. In Sandwell we know diversity is our strength and these fresh faces will bring a wealth of lived experience to the council chamber. Two Sandwell councillors quit, claiming Labour are trying to 'cover-up corruption and cronyism'. Read about our approach to external linking. 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READ MORE:Sandwell's Conservative leader urged to resign over 'distasteful' social media posts. Two senior councillors in Sandwell have been suspended by the Labour Party. Sandwell Council leader steps down after party suspension He claimed: They fought and argued with anyone from a BAME background, [and] would always belittle their ideas or statements in meetings and out of them. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "Were investigating an assault on Freeth Street in Oldbury, Sandwell around 4pm yesterday (7 December). knocked a phone out of the hands of a blogger. He also chaired a taskforce looking at the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities set up by Birmingham MP Liam Byrne, Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor. It detailed a further two councillors had been placed under investigation, but it is not clear what for. Mr Hussain, now suspended by Labour, has previously denied any wrongdoing. Read about our approach to external linking. She chose not to apologise for the tweets sent in 2018 but her claims of serious misconduct open a can of worms at an authority trying to clean up its image after years of damaging scandals. Sandwell's Labour group has been plunged into fresh turmoil ahead of the local elections over claims of a "hugely damaging" selection process. On Monday, an official email purported to be from the Conservative party confirmed Mr Kalaris membership was fully restored after a five-month investigation. 13:26, 10 DEC 2021. A recent audit found evidence of poor behaviour and a lack of trust across the organisation which has seen six different leaders in as many years and a number of misconduct allegations made against councillors. Get Midlands politics news and analysis direct to your inbox with the Midlands Message newsletter. His case has been referred to the National Constitutional Committee, Labour's ultimate disciplinary body. Senior reporter at the Express & Star. Councillor Steve Melia | Great Barr with Yew Tree Ward - Sandwell He has not yet responded to further questions from the BBC. The Labour Party is yet to give an official reason for the suspensions, which have plunged the crisis hit authority into further turmoil. The tweets have since been deleted. A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed the force was investigating but so far nobody has been arrested. I haven't made the decision to go in there, it was the Labour Party. Former Cradley Heath and Old Hill councillor John Tipper, who stood down in 2016, is back as the new candidate for Old Warley. Mr Jones gave evidence saying he did not know the relationship between Mr Hussain and the toilet blocks' buyer. The council was said to be "insular and siloed" but improvements were also highlighted. The MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis denounced the council as a "rotten regime" in January 2018, prompting a retort from Mr Eling who branded him "a coward". The run up to the 2019 elections in Sandwell was marked by allegations that Labours national office had interfered in candidate selections, amid claims that allies of then West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson had been dumped in favour of Corbynites. Ms Hadley has denied any wrongdoing and claims the tape featuring the comments was doctored.
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