Two senior Ashfield councillors have appeared at their first official council meeting since both appeared in court on separate charges.
Councillors Jason Zadrozny and Tom Hollis (both Ash Ind), the leader and deputy leader of Ashfield District Council, attended the authority’s full council meeting on Monday (July 24).
It came just days after the pair attended Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday (July 21) as co-accused defendants.
Both politicians face separate charges with Cllr Zadrozny, 43, of Sutton Road, Kirkby, facing 22 allegations including fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and possession of a Class A drug.
Cllr Hollis, 30, of Yew Tree Drive, Huthwaite, faces two counts of failing to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest in a property under the Localism Act 2011.
The pair were both released on unconditional bail and must return to separate courts in the coming weeks and months as court proceedings continue.
Cllr Zadrozny will next appear at Nottingham Crown Court on August 18 after pleading not guilty to all charges last week.
Some of the fraud charges relate to the alleged misuse of Nottinghamshire County Council funds between February 2018 and February 2021.
The politician, who has led Ashfield District Council since 2018, is also the joint leader of the opposition at Nottinghamshire County Council.
His deputy Cllr Hollis is due to face a three-day trial before magistrates in October charged with two counts under the Localism Act.
It’s alleged Cllr Hollis failed to inform the monitoring officers at Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council about his disclosable pecuniary interest in a property in Forest Road, Skegby.
This is alleged to have taken place following his election to both authorities in 2019 and 2021 respectively and is a declaration councillors must make by law.
He appeared in court on Friday to confirm his name, age and address and to confirm he pleads not guilty to both charges.
His legal representatives told the hearing the trial should not take place in Nottinghamshire because he is an elected councillor in the county.
They will put forward representations for the three-day trial to take place in an alternative court outside the area, and a decision is expected on August 25.
However, if these requests are rejected, he will appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on October 10.
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