A LEADING district councillor has been suspended for a month after failing to declare his interests, but has kept his position on the council’s powerful executive cabinet.

An investigation found that Tory councillor Peter Whittaker, who represents Tardebigge, took six months to return his register of interests form, which should have been completed within 28 days after Bromsgrove District Council adopted a new code of conduct in July 2007.

But council leader Roger Hollingworth (Con-Alvechurch) has resisted calls for Cllr Whittaker’s removal from the cabinet.

The Conservative group met on Monday to discuss the suspension where it was decided that no further action would be taken.

Cllr Hollingworth said: “He has been doing a good job for this council. He was a silly man. The legislation says 28 days and he has paid the price with this suspension.”

The matter went before Bromsgrove District Council’s standard committee last Friday. At the meeting, Cllr Whittaker accepted the failure to disclose interests was “down to him.”

He commented that he “did not believe the public were at any disadvantage” at not disclosing his interests, as there was only a minor amendment from his last entry in the members’ book of interests.

He conceded that “in hindsight” a declaration would have been a “good idea.”

In handing out the suspension it was revealed that the committee had reached its decision based on the “significance” in failing to disclose, the prominent role Cllr Whittaker takes as a cabinet councillor and on committees, the number of reminders and training given to Cllr Whittaker, the Standards Board for England’s guidance and the importance of public transparency.

Councillors are legally required to enter details, such as share ownership, property interests, hobbies and membership of clubs and societies. The suspension begins on November 1.