UNDER law, there is no statutory requirement for democratically elected councillors to undergo standards training,

As recently as last summer I was a Member of the Forest of Dean District Council’s (FoDDC) standards committee – therefore I made myself fully aware of the rules and regulations that pertain to the subject.

Over the last two years, since my election to FoDDC, numerous councillors have been investigated by the standards committee, I have not been one of them.

I sit on three authorities: Lydney Town Council, FoDDC and Gloucestershire County Council.

Only one of those authorities, in these resource-stretched times, seems “pre-occupied” with standards issues.

I will leave it up to individuals to form their own opinion as to why.

This is a verbatim email conversation that I had with the FoDDC legal officer:

•April 4: “Dear ******, due to illness in January this year I was unable to attend the training. I notified Democratic Services accordingly.

“Since then I have not, to my knowledge, received any further offer of training.

“I do not use the Forest of Dean Council’s e-mail system, my group leader is aware is aware of

that, Democratic Services should be aware and your IT department will confirm.

“I am easily contactable by other means. As I stated to you previously I have no problem with doing the standards training, notwithstanding that I am as a Member to two other authorities fully up to speed on the subject.

“Please communicate this with Members of the Standards Committee.

•April 4, reply from the legal officer: “Alan. Thank you for your email. I was unaware that you did not use the council e-mail system and have been using that e-mail address to contact you.

I will forward you the slides later today together with a declaration for you to complete to say you have completed the training at home and understand all of your obligations.

“I will let the standards committee know that this has been done. Regards ******” Clarification – on what, in reality, is a non-story

– Cllr Alan Preest (Con), Forest of Dean District Council, Lydney North.