LAUNCESTON Town Council will look at individual roles of its members to decide whether it is necessary for any criminal records checks to be carried out.

At a meeting of the full council last week, councillors considered advice received from Cornwall Council on criminal records checks.

In the document, Cornwall Council said it recently reviewed its procedure for undertaking criminal records checks on its members and co-opted persons. On July 21 it resolved to undertake basic checks on all members and co-opted persons and enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks (without a barred list check) on members who sit on the cabinet, it being identified that the cabinet discharges education and social care functions.

Cornwall Council also undertakes enhanced DBS checks on certain officers and those who sit on its adoption and fostering panels.

The document read: “Town and Parish Councils will be mindful of the public trust that is placed in their Councillors by virtue of their membership of their Councils and you are therefore urged to consider whether criminal checks should be undertaken on your Councillors.”

Cllr Paul O’Brien said he ‘fully understood’ enhanced DBS checks being carried out, but not the basic level of checks, and added: “But that is their decision to make not ours, but if they get it wrong why should we get it wrong?

“We don’t put individuals into positions of trust like that.”

He alluded to roles some town councillors may hold, such as governor positions, and that they would already have had the appropriate checks carried out.

He added on the ‘very rare occasions’ councillors ‘may be brought into areas with vulnerable people involved’: “They [councillors] can say to a colleague please accompany me to cover my back, and equally keep an eye on each other.”

Cllr John Conway said: “No matter what CRB checks or whatever else you have they can’t stop you sitting around this table.

“To pillory anyone one who hasn’t been found guilty in a court of law is totally, totally wrong.”

Cllr Margaret Young said she thought her youth council contact ‘ought to warrant her having a check’.

Mayor Cllr Brian Hogan agreed: “I think in certain situations there should be [checks].”

Cllr Roger Creagh-Osborne said: “My understanding, it’s only required if you are working unsupervised, one to one with young people. It would surprise me if that happens much on the youth council.”

Cllr Hogan added: “There could be a situation where a councillor operating with the youth council is left in a room with an individual, driving them somewhere, whatever it is. We should look at the roles rather than the whole spectrum.”

Cllr O’Brien said he would be happy to accept enhanced DBS checks for the role of the councillor involved with the youth council, adding: “I would go a stage further to say an enhanced check and check against other indices.

“Even go to the extent that Cornwall Council haven’t, go to ‘top of the range’ with cross checks as well.”

Cllr John Harris said: “It would protect us as well. I think if you are never going to be in a position in the regular course of events it’s an expense we don’t really need.”

Cllr Hogan summed up: “Look at individual roles for the moment.”