RINGWOOD councillors Stephen and Brenda Wright have been exonerated after a complaint that they failed to leave a meeting when they had an interest in the election of town mayor Michael Thierry.

Councillor Danny Cracknell complained to the Standards Board for England saying Stephen Wright should have registered a prejudicial interest in the proceedings and withdrawn from the chamber because he was employed by Mr Thierry.

He made a similar complaint about Mr Wright's wife Brenda on the grounds her husband was employed by candidate Mr Thierry.

Mr Cracknell stepped down as mayor in 2003 when he was recovering from cancer of the throat and handed over the reigns to Mr Thierry.

But at this year's mayoral election on May 26 he fully expected that Mr Thierry would not stand for re-election and he would become mayor again. However, Mr Thierry decided to stand and at a secret ballot was voted in for a second year.

Mr Cracknell made his complaint on June 7. Now the local government Standards Board has investigated and published its findings.

The board considered that "Councillor Wright's relationship with the candidate was unlikely to affect the way he voted".

"Councillor Wright was conscious of his obligations under the Code of Conduct and the need to make a decision based on the public interest.

"The Ethical Standards Officer therefore found that there was no evidence of any failure to comply with the Code of Conduct."

In the case of Mrs Wright "the relationship was unlikely to be so significant that it would have prejudiced her judgement of the public interest"

Town council clerk Terry Simpson said it was very much a test case for the new Code of Conduct.

Mr Wright, 56, who is currently living in Aradippou, Cyprus, with his wife, said he was pleased the complaint had been thrown out.

"I just think it was totally unnecessary. Michael just wanted to do another year," he said.

Mr Cracknell preferred not to comment on the decision.

First published: October 29