Councillor “breached code of conduct” over toilet sales, parking tickets

The former deputy leader of Sandwell Council breached the local authority’s code of conduct 12 times, a standards sub-committee has found.

The committee concluded that Cllr Mahboob Hussain had pushed through the sale of three public toilets below their market value to a family friend in 2011/12.

The committee also found the councillor had instructed officers to reduce or cancel three parking tickets for his wife and sons.

Cllr Hussain brought his office and the council into disrepute, compromised officers’ impartiality and gave an unfair advantage to the family friend who bought the toilets and his wife and sons regarding the parking tickets.

The committee delivered its judgement after a three-day hearing.

Lawyers for Cllr Hussain had sought an adjournment on Monday but this was unsuccessful and the hearing went ahead in Councillor Hussain’s absence.

Cllr Hussain is reported in the Express & Star to have said that he had always strong refuted the allegations made against him “and would have liked the opportunity to defend myself fully”.

Sandwell said a further hearing would be arranged in the coming weeks to consider what action should be taken against Cllr Hussain.