A date has been set to conclude an investigation into the former Sheriff of Nottingham after a report found he abused his position to obtain gig tickets, discounted car repairs, and hospitality.
An external investigation, conducted by legal firm Bevan Brittan LLP, found Cllr Zafran Khan had breached the Councillor Code of Conduct eight times in respect of gifts and hospitality, use of position and disrepute.
The key findings of the report include alleged breaches of the code through the use of his council email to get discounted to repairs to his Land Rover; free events tickets to see Tate McRae and Paw Patrol at the Motorpoint Arena in its hospitality suites; and a failure to declare hospitality at The Ivy restaurant and Nottingham Racecourse.
Cllr Khan was elected to represent the Wollaton West ward in 2019, and held the civic role of Sheriff until May this year.
Cllr Khan maintains he has done nothing wrong, and his legal representative, Mannat Malhi, of Matrix Chambers, said they have taken issue with the report, claiming it contains legal and factual errors.
His legal team is arguing the investigation has not concluded yet and the report is only one piece of evidence.
The report was first published at a meeting of the cross-party Standards and Governance Committee on October 15, but an issue was raised during the meeting regarding potential pre-determination by one of the members.
As a result, the other members of the committee, from different political groups, decided they felt it was inappropriate to continue “because of the risk of undermining the process”, the council said in a statement at the time.
There would not have been enough councillors present for the meeting to legally proceed, and the hearing has now been rescheduled for Thursday (November 5).
The meeting will hear from both the investigating officer behind the report and Cllr Khan’s legal representative, Ms Malhi.
Councillors sitting on the hearing panel will then determine whether breaches have indeed occurred and whether any sanctions are required.
The alleged breaches in the report are as follows:
Gifts and hospitality:
- By failing to declare hospitality with an estimated value of at least £25 in respect of his attendance at the opening of The Ivy.
- By failing to declare three complimentary visits to the Nottingham Racecourse hospitality suite with guests.
- By failing to declare within 28 days two visits to events at the Motorpoint Arena in the hospitality suite with guests.
- By accepting complimentary tickets for himself and guests to two events at the Motorpoint Arena in the hospitality suite which amounted to a real or substantive personal gain.
Use of position:
- By seeking to use his position as Sheriff and/or Councillor to advantage himself in respect of repairs for his Land Rover.
- By using his position as councillor to obtain complimentary tickets for himself and guests to two events at the Motorpoint Arena in the hospitality suite.
Disrepute:
- By seeking to use his position as Sheriff and/or Councillor to advantage of himself in respect of the repairs of his Land Rover.
- By using his position as councillor to obtain complimentary tickets for himself and guests to two events at the Motorpoint Arena in the hospitality suite.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
