Wragge Report: Ex-Sandwell Council deputy may never fully pay his legal costs
A former deputy council leader says he may never fully pay the six-figure sum he is said to owe Sandwell Council in legal costs after revealing he had questioned whether the amount was 'reasonable'.
Mahboob Hussain has been ordered by a High Court judge to hand over £110,000 after he launched a series of failed legal challenges relating to the publication of the Wragge report.
Oldbury councillor Mr Hussain said he expects to pay the first instalment of £25,000 today, but revealed his team of lawyers were trying to strike a ‘fair deal’ with Sandwell Council over the final figure.
“Whether or not I pay the figure quoted depends on whether or not they are reasonable costs,” he said.
“My solicitors are looking into the matter. If they tell me that the costs are reasonable then I will pay.
“But they will be trying to come to an agreement with the council to get a fair deal.”
Sandwell Council's chief executive Jan Britton said the full amount would have to be paid 'within a three month period', adding that if the costs cannot be agreed independent assessors would be brought in.
Mr Hussain launched legal challenges to the authority’s decision to publish the Wragge report in May 2016.
It contains allegations that he councillor breached the members’ code of conduct by abusing his cabinet position to benefit his family and friends.
Mr Hussain had argued that the report should never have been published on the grounds that it had violated his and his family’s human rights.
But it was thrown out by the High Court in July, with Mr Justice Green ruling that there was ‘a powerful public interest’ in a ‘thorough and fair’ investigation.
Mr Hussain, who was suspended from the Labour Party in May 2016, is due to face the authority’s standards committee next month to answer the allegations.
He has always denied any wrongdoing.
