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27
Aug 2020
Harrogate MP refuses to answer Porsche investigation questions
Andrew Jones MP has refused to answer the Stray Ferret's questions relating to Cllr Samantha Mearns and a police investigation into missing Porsche cars.
The Stray Ferret revealed yesterday allegations that Gmund Cars Ltd transferred ownership of more than £1 million worth of cars without the owner's permission. The company was run by Andrew Mearns and dissolved in June 2020.
Cllr Samantha Mearns was a "person with significant control" and company secretary of Gmund Cars Ltd until December 2018. Cllr Mearns remains as an aide to Andrew Jones MP and a councillor for Harrogate Borough Council.
North Yorkshire Police is investigating the allegations and arrested a man in his fifties in July last year. He has not been charged and the force released him under investigation.
The Stray Ferret asked Andrew Jones MP if he had confidence in Cllr Mearns, when he first became aware of the allegations against Gmunds Cars Ltd and whether he had any comments to make on the investigation into Gmund Cars Ltd. Mr Jones has not responded. Harrogate Borough Council told the Stray Ferret that it will take the questions surrounding its confidence in Cllr Mearns and her involvement in Gmund Cars Ltd further.
Read more:
- Harrogate MP aide and councillor at centre of £1 million Porsche investigation
- How Harrogate council responded to a complaint about Cllr Mearns
We do know that both the council and Andrew Jones MP have received complaints about Cllr Mearns in relation to Gmund Cars Ltd.
The Stray Ferret has seen emails of a complaint put into both Andrew Jones and Harrogate Borough Council about Cllr Mearns and Gmund Cars Ltd. The complaint was made in the spring of last year.
Anthony Place wrote to Mr Jones and told him that Gmund Cars Ltd had transferred ownership of his car without his permission in March 2019 and questioned the "integrity and business practices" of Cllr Mearns.
Andrew Jones MP responded in May 2019 to say he had a conflict of interest and directed Mr Place to his own MP. Mr Jones also pointed Mr Place towards the council's complaints procedure.
Harrogate Borough Council's head of legal and governance responded to Mr Place in June 2019. Jennifer Norton said that the council would not take the complaint further because Cllr Mearns was not acting in her public office duties at the time.
For more on Harrogate Borough Council's response to Anthony Place's complaint Read here.
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