Local News 
In July this year the Labour Group on Hertsmere Council called for the resignation of Councillor Bright after he orchestrated the release of a press statement from an unpublished MORI survey conducted on the Council's behalf.
Despite there being clear evidence that Councillor Bright had abused his executive powers, he felt slighted enough to make a complaint to the Standards Board[1] of England with the unjustified allegation that he had been smeared.
In a statement released this week, the Standards Board has thrown out Councillor Bright's complaint deciding that the complaint was so baseless there wasn't even anything to investigate. The Standards Board went on to confirm that our actions in highlighting the original abuse of executive power, fully complied with the authority's Code of Conduct.
Councillor Leon Reefe, the Labour Group Leader, said
"This is not about a single incident over an unpublished survey, it strikes at the heart of how the Council communicates with the people of Hertsmere. It is unacceptable for a Councillor who is responsible for the communications department to be allowed to organise the release of information in this way. This is especially true when it referred to the other department for which he is responsible and is recognised to be failing our residents."
"We need to be able to trust what the council says on our behalf, official Council communications need to be non-partisan and reflect the views of the whole council."
"The response from the Standards Board totally exonerates our actions in bringing this discreditable abuse of executive power to the public's attention. We still believe that Councillor Bright should do the honourable thing and resign from his responsibilities for Waste and Communications."
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