Esher councillor David Archer 'to be suspended' from planning committees for one year after paper sting

External investigators were called in after a video, filmed as part of an investigation by the Daily Telegraph, showed Esher ward councillor David Archer talking about ways to get ahead with planning decisions.

The audit and standards hearing panel of Elmbridge Council considered the external examiners’ report into the conduct of Coun Archer and heard from the investigator and councillor.

The panel found that Coun Archer had breached the members’ code of conduct in two places, by failure to treat others with respect contrary and conducting himself in a manner contrary to the duty to maintain high standards of conduct.

The panel found no breach of using his position as a member improperly to secure for himself an advantage.

Following the hearing, the panel decided to censure Coun Archer for his conduct, accept the apology offered to be communicated to all members and recommended to his group leader that he should be removed from the planning committee and its areas sub-committees.

Coun Archer said: “I think the original inspectors’ report was fair and objective. Why they went one more step I don’t know. I have been taken off of all committees.

“I have been a councillor for 14 years and I committed a major faux pas in the heat of the moment in what I thought was a private meeting. I have been very wrong.”

Councillor John O’Reilly, council leader, said: “I think, bearing in mind what the panel recommended, it is appropriate for everybody that David doesn’t serve on the planning committees for the next municipal year and that also that he doesn’t serve on the licensing committee for the next 12 months or so.

“I hope he would serve on other committees. I will be accepting all the recommendations from the panel.”

Coun Archer last month agreed to step down from his post at the council’s full and sub-planning committee while the investigation was carried out.