Ex-Sandwell Council housing chief cleared of misconduct
A councillor who was accused of urging Sandwell Council to buy back his mother's previously council-owned home has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Sandwell's former housing boss Simon Hackett was also cleared of allegations including indecent exposure and demanding a parking ticket be cancelled following an investigation by the authority.
A Sandwell Council spokesperson said: "In March 2016, the council's monitoring officer received a number of allegations regarding the conduct of Councillor Simon Hackett.
"The council has since carried out a thorough investigation into all allegations and can confirm Mr Hackett has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
There was no evidence of a breach of the members code of conduct and no further action will be taken.
"The investigations were carried out in accordance with the arrangements for dealing with standards allegations under the Localism Act 2011."
Mr Hackett, who represents Friar Park and oversees children's services at the authority, has always denied the allegations.
He said the accusation were 'malicious, politically motivated and untrue', adding that he was 'extremely pleased' that he had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The allegations came during a time of mass upheaval at the authority.
Just days earlier the Wragge report had been published, a lengthy investigation into the sale of a number of properties owned by the authority that centred around the council's former deputy leader Mahboob Hussain.
Earlier in the year the death of council leader Darren Cooper had sparked a bitter leadership battle among Sandwell's Labour group, which eventually saw Councillor Steve Eling defeat Councillor Yvonne Davies after the first ballot ended in a dead heat.
Former Cradley Heath and Old Hill councillor John Tipper said he was delighted that Mr Hackett had been cleared.
"Simon has been through a tough time having to deal with allegations that were palpably nonsense," he said.
"He is one of the most truly decent people in local politics and always works hard for those that he represents.
"I'm sure he will now continue to do what he has always done, and use his position to try and make people's lives better."
