I've done nothing wrong - Councillor Dave McLuckie
by Sandy McKenzie, Evening Gazette
May 12 2011
THE chairman of Cleveland Police Authority has resigned and denied any wrongdoing as details emerged today of an £87,000 deal with a heating firm he has ties to.
It is unclear whether the contract forms part of the criminal investigation into the organisation, which was launched this week.
Councillor Dave McLuckie quit as head of Cleveland Police’s governing body while a probe into the authority’s affairs takes place.
He said today that he has always been open about his associations with the firm, and did not benefit financially from the deal.
The Gazette can reveal that the authority has a contract with Middlesbrough-based plumbing and heating firm Combi UK worth up to £87,825 to carry out maintenance to police buildings.
Warwickshire Police, the force charged with carrying out the inquiry, has refused to confirm whether the contract is being investigated or not.
Cleveland Police Authority and Combi UK have also declined to comment.
Mr McLuckie is listed as a consultant for the company on the police authority’s register of members’ interests.
The firm was awarded a three-year contract to carry out “cyclical maintenance for mechanical services” at police properties in February 2009.
In the first months of the deal, it was paid £4,228. In the financial year 2009/2010, it was paid £26,755, plus £21,544 in 2010/11 and £1,761 so far this year.
The contract expires in February next year, and will be worth a maximum of £87,825.
The police authority insists that the contract was awarded after a tendering process, but a spokesman was unable to comment on whether it formed part of the ongoing investigation.
When the Gazette contacted Combi UK at the firm’s Hartington Road base yesterday, a spokeswoman said that the managing director “has no comment to make at this time”.
A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said she was unable to comment on specific details of the ongoing investigation.
Cllr McLuckie said this morning that he took no part in the contract negotiations.
“I always declare my interests - I always make sure I play no part when it comes to anything I have an interest in,” he said.
“I am a consultant for Combi UK. I carry out a number of different roles but I do not deal with contracts.
“I have not done anything wrong.”
He said the inquiry began due to “vexatious allegations”.
The investigation is into allegations relating to a number of people with past and present associations to Cleveland Police Authority.
Cllr McLuckie, the police authority chairman since 2005, said that when he reported the situation to his police authority colleagues on Monday he was deeply grateful for their unanimous decision that he should continue in his post as chairman of the authority.
“As I made clear in my earlier statement I do not believe that I have ever acted improperly during my time on the police authority - and especially during my period as chair.
“It has now become clear pressures arising from the investigation could cause significant difficulties for the authority if I was to continue as chair which is why today I have decided to step down from that position with immediate effect,” said Cllr McLuckie.
He said he believed a great deal had been achieved in recent years.
“I do not want to see any of that good work undermined - or to hinder the ability of the authority to make further progress and tackle the major challenges it faces.
“I believe that it is in the best interests of the authority, the public we serve - and my own interests - that I step down from the chair at this point,” said Cllr McLuckie.
He said he would, of course, co-operate with the investigation.
“But I repeat I believe I have acted properly and in the interests of the public throughout my period on the authority and I will fight to defend my reputation and demonstrate that any allegations against me are without foundation” he said.
Cllr McLuckie said he would continue as a Redcar and Cleveland councillor but he did not intend to seek re-nomination to the police authority.
Councillor Barry Coppinger, a member of the police authority, today said he was concerned that behind the scenes the establishment was acting to remove an elected representative.
James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, said Cllr McLuckie was right to step down.
He said: “We must not pre judge the results of this investigation but it really brings home the lack of public accountability on some of these police authorities, I will be asking the Government to push ahead with its plans for reform and elections for Police Commissioners.”
Read More
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... z1MG27bnXH 
