The other parties have accused a top Labour councillor in Reading of ‘impropriety’ and a ‘conflict of interest’ in the project to install a sculpture in the town.
The Cartwheeling Boys sculpture, gifted to Reading by Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1981, was damaged by Storm Eunice in 2022.
It was recently installed on the side of the Reading Borough Council offices in Bridge Street.
The Affable Design Company, which was used to assist in repairing the sculpture, is owned by councillor Adele Barnett-Ward and her husband, Edmund.
A total of £10,644 was paid to Affable in 2024/25. This was broken down into three payments of £6,279, £2,340 and £2,025.
This has led to accusations of a conflict of interest, which was first flagged by the Green Party, the main opposition on the council.
Cllr Barnett-Ward defended herself by saying she immediately declared an interest and removed herself from the decision-making process.
This was backed up by the council, with a spokesperson saying she had no involvement in the decision to use Affable.
Cllr Barnett-Ward is standing to keep her seat in the Thames ward for the Labour Party.
Speaking on behalf of the Greens, cllr Dave McElroy argued that a council press release celebrating the installation of the Cartwheeling Boys should have mentioned the money paid to Affable.
Cllr McElroy (Green, Redlands) said: “I wouldn’t have put myself in that position, no way, not a good look at all.
“I don’t understand why the council didn’t declare it in their press release. I mean, they found time to promote the company, but not declare that the company is owned by a senior councillor in the administration?
“If they’re going to do this sort of thing, I think the council should be going out of its way to be transparent.”
The Green candidate for Thames ward is David Clarke.
Cllr Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) said: “Following repeated controversies involving Labour councillors, public trust in politics in Reading is already at a low ebb. This case risks eroding it further.
“Simply saying ‘I recused myself’ is not enough where there is a clear appearance of a conflict of interest at the heart of decision-making.
“As the Lead Member for Leisure and Culture, what formal safeguards were put in place to ensure there was no influence, direct or indirect, and no use of prior knowledge gained through her role? Who decided this project should be prioritised over other pressing needs, and were they aware at the time that Affable Design Company was owned by the Lead Member and her husband?
“What procurement process was followed, and how was this decision reached independently and transparently?
“Why has the council used its own channels to promote the company, and is this done consistently for all suppliers?
“Does the leader accept this raises a clear appearance of a conflict of interest, potentially breaching the Nolan Principles, and will this now be referred for independent investigation?”
The Conservative candidate for Thames is Jaykumar Patel.
Speaking for the Liberal Democrats, Dr John Grout said: “Cllr Barnett-Ward stated clearly she followed the procedure, and we have no reason to dispute that.
“However, this does highlight the broader risks of having a long-running administration.
“With Labour running the council for all but one of the 40 years, the interests of the party can become blurred, and it is crucial to have an effective opposition.
“In Reading, the Liberal Democrats have provided that certainty and balance, and the prospect of an alternative administration, which puts the interests of Reading residents as its foremost priority.”
Christopher Burden is the Lib Dem candidate for the ward, with Dr Grout being the candidate for Battle ward.
An article about the Cartwheeling Boys was published by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on Tuesday, April 21.
The LDRS has reached out to the other parties contesting in the Thames ward.
They are Alexander Kelly (Reform UK) and James Halls (Social Democratic Party).
