Councillor convicted of housing fraud could remain on authority

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

A Greenwich councillor convicted of fraud could maintain her position on the council if she chooses to appeal the finding, her fellow members have been told.

At a meeting which also saw the authority adopt its budget for the upcoming year, members were updated on Labour councillor Tonia Ashikodi, who was found guilty of property fraud on February 12.

Cllr Ashikodi applied for and accepted a council home while owning three houses herself – two in Thamesmead and one in Charlton.

But Greenwich Mayor Mick Hayes said even if a councillor was sentenced to more than three months’ in prison, they wouldn’t automatically be sacked from the council.

He said: “This situation remains ongoing, with sentencing scheduled to take place on March 3.”

While the Local Government Act states that any councillor sentenced to more than three months’ in prison will be removed from their position, this is subject to the right of appeal, he said.

“Disqualification won’t take place until any appeal ends,” Mayor Hayes said.

“At this time Cllr Ashikodi remains a councillor at the Royal Borough of Greenwich.”

He added the council would issue a further statement after sentencing.

Cllr Ashikodi, who is currently suspended from the Labour Party, was not present at the meeting.

During questioning, opposition leader Matt Hartley asked if there was “anything more” that council leader Dan Thorpe could do to get Cllr Ashikodi to do “the right thing” and resign.

“It’s intolerable that she is still a councillor,” Cllr Hartley told the meeting.

In response, Cllr Thorpe said he hadn’t been in contact with Cllr Ashikodi.

“I don’t think there’s anything more I can do at this stage,” he said.

An earlier question tabled by Cllr Hartley and directed at the council leader enquired what actions had been taken since Cllr Ashikodi’s conviction.

Cllr Thorpe said he shared “the frustrations of everyone who has called for her resignation, but the council has no powers to disqualify her”, and emphasised the legal process would have to run its full course.

Cllr Ashikodi is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.

Pictured top: Cllr Tonia Ashikodi could remain on Greenwich council despite her conviction for housing fraud