‘MY REPUTATION is paramount to me,’ Town Centre Partnership boss Jack Honeybill ringingly declared when defending his right to remain at the Environment board meeting considering the fate of the Co-op’s Leale’s Yard development.

But what he hasn’t enhanced is his reputation as a straight-line logical thinker.

His defence for staying, although the rules state that a member with a direct or special interest should declare it as soon as practicable and then withdraw from the considerations and voting, is that his interest was neither direct nor special.

If that is the case, then why didn’t he vote?

His own actions, apparently endorsed by Environment officers – although whether they took legal advice on what may well prove to be a crucial matter is not known – indicate acceptance that the rules were at least partially triggered.

Whether the regulations, brought in following the unhappy dealings of the Policy Council over the hospital clinical block and members’ interests, allow for a pick and mix approach to their provisions is also questionable.

However, from Deputy Honeybill’s own comments it is clear that he and his officials accepted that his level of interest was sufficiently direct and/or special for it to preclude him from voting.

That being so, why did he remain during the discussions?

The rules are clear: ‘withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of and voting on the matter concerned’.

The reason for doing so is understandable, to prevent any claim or suspicion that the individual used powers of persuasion to influence the outcome, whether they were able to vote or not.

Because Deputy Honeybill chose to ignore that guidance while accepting that it at least partially applied, he exposes himself to various potential allegations: that he remained to try to ensure the decision went the ‘right’ way, that he was able to influence in some way those able to vote, that without his powers of persuasion the officials would recommend acceptance of the full scheme…

Nonsense, perhaps, but adherence to the rules is designed to prevent the doubts from being voiced in the first place.

Ignoring sensible advice does little to enhance reputations.