Selby MP John Grogan today called for a new code of conduct to be drawn up for district councillors and officers following further disclosures of hospitality.

He also wants a standards committee to be set up with at least one independent member from outside the council.

Mr Grogan said: "We must zealously guard the council's good reputation to maintain public confidence, and because increasingly we are going to want to promote Selby to attract new investment and jobs."

But he stressed there was absolutely no evidence produced to date which suggested any criminal activity.

The town's Labour MP made his announcement after independent district councillor John McCartney claimed that three councillors - council leader Geoff Lynch, deputy leader Dean Howson, and planning chairman Jack Crawford - had accepted hospitality.

They involved trips to two cricket matches and two race meetings by Coun Lynch, a rugby league game by Coun Crawford, and a cricket festival by Coun Howson.

But all three councillors said the invitations had been recorded in the council's gifts and hospitality register, and they had nothing to hide.

Coun McCartney also claimed that the former planning chairman, Coun Trevor Limbert, had failed to register a free lunch with planning consultants, or a visit to Doncaster Races as a guest of one company. Coun Limbert later resigned as planning chairman on health grounds.

Coun Limbert confirmed to the Evening Press he had not registered either the lunch or the races trip. "It was just one of those things. I had already announced my resignation, so what was the point," he said.

The companies which issued the invites also defended the hospitality they provided, saying they had done nothing wrong.

Mr Grogan said his proposals for a standards committee and a new code of conduct were outlined in a recent Government white paper.

But he wanted to see Selby act in advance of the legislation.

Mr Grogan said: "We have to keep the events of recent weeks in proportion. Selby has a good record of honesty and integrity in local government."

Coun Lynch welcomed Mr Grogan's proposals. He said he would recommend to the council's Labour group that an all-party working party be established to draw up recommendations before the council elections in May.

Coun Lynch said: "The reality is there are council members on both sides who have received occasional hospitality.

"The council's monitoring officer has advised me that so long as there was no direct conflict of interest, this in itself is not unethical."

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