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Complaint questions Wiltshire council leader's business interests account

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 05:59 · Archive

A formal complaint questions whether Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn gave councillors an accurate account of his private business interests.

A formal complaint has been lodged against Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn questioning whether he gave councillors an accurate account of his private business interests. The complaint centres on statements made by Cllr Thorn at Full Council on July 21, when he faced questions over potential conflicts between his council responsibilities and private planning consultancy work.

During the meeting, Cllr Thorn said the 'only client' of his company, Happy Business, was CCP, a consultancy he chaired. He said he had stepped away from both after discussing his strategic planning role with the council's Monitoring Officer.

Complainant Peter Urmston has submitted documents which he argues raise questions over that account. Minutes from North Herts Council record Cllr Thorn, identified as being 'of Happy Business Consulting', presenting a proposed 280-home development at Barkway Road, Royston, to a community forum in March 2025. During questioning about further engagement by the developer, the minutes record him saying: 'I can ask the client to see if they will commit.'

The complaint also points to an archived version of Cllr Thorn's consultancy website containing the heading 'Clients I have worked with include...' alongside 13 organisations. The complaint itself acknowledges this does not establish that those companies were clients of Happy Business, nor is the precise contractual relationship clear.

Mr Urmston alleges Cllr Thorn may therefore have made 'materially inaccurate or misleading statements' when councillors were considering concerns about conflicts of interest. He has asked for the matter to be investigated.

Complaint questions Wiltshire council leader's business interests account
Image: Gazette & Herald

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How it is being reported

In this story: Ian Thorn · Peter Urmston · Wiltshire Council · Happy Business · CCP · North Herts Council · Royston

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