Tony Arbour revealed confidential details of council property deal
Hounslow's London Assembly Member Tony Arbour has been suspended from his duties as a councillor in the London Borough of Richmond after he leaked confidential Council information.
The former leader of Richmond Council has been struck off for 28 days after he revealed that the Liberal Democrat run council turned down a deal to buy a playing field for £1 in 2001 but then was prepared to spend £100,000 for exactly the same site in Teddington earlier this year.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the council said, "The standards hearing sub-committee judged unanimously that Cllr Arbour breached paragraph four of the Members' Code of Conduct. The suspension will begin on October 19, during which time Cllr Arbour will be unable to take part in formal council business."
Tony Arbour remained unrepentant saying that it was in the public's interest to disclose details of the property deal. He has reportedly claimed that the information was already in the public domain.
The suspension does not prevent him from continuing to represent London South West as an Assembly Member in the Greater London Assembly.
October 16, 2009