THE former head of a standards watchdog has expressed concern over an MLA's role in awarding a bouncy castle enterprise he is involved in thousands of pounds in council funding.
The Irish News yesterday revealed that the UUP's Adrian Cochrane-Watson sat on a council sub-group that agreed payments to Antrim-based Bouncy King NI.
It received almost £11,000 of ratepayers' cash in two years from the former Antrim Borough Council to provide bouncy castles for groups holding events at Eleventh Night bonfires.
But Mr Cochrane-Watson did not declare an interest or absent himself from the committee despite his involvement in the "social economy enterprise".
He has strongly defended his actions, insisting he was not involved in bidding for money and has never financially benefited from Bouncy King NI – although he said one of his daughters may in the past have received an "ad hoc wage".
Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chairman of Westminster's Committee on Standards in Public Life, said the former councillor had a "duty to declare his interest".
The former Parades Commission chairman said: "He appears to have no financial interest in the company that received public funds that he helped to approve.
"However, given his close interest as a committee member of the company, he should clearly have declared his interest at the meeting which awarded the public money.
"He had a duty to declare his interest."
Payments endorsed by the bonfire sub-group of the council are already under investigation after The Irish News revealed funds were used to buy pallets burnt on bonfires.
More than £6,300 was spent on wooden pallets during 2013 and 2014 in the Antrim area, prompting the Audit Office probe.
Funding rules say bonfire groups should only receive money for related 'family fun events' – but not for the building of Eleventh Night pyres.
Antrim-area groups submitted invoices and receipts to the council and payments were approved by a committee that includes councillors and community representatives.
Mr Cochrane-Watson, who was recently co-opted to replace South Antrim MP Danny Kinahan at Stormont, said he does not own Bouncy King NI but is a committee member.
"I don't see a conflict of interest here at all," he said.
"You're highlighting a service provided by a social economy enterprise which I am a member of. Should I have declared an interest? I'm really not going to get hung up on that."
He added: "I am championing a social economy enterprise which has delivered."
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman's office said it has not yet received any complaints on the matter.
The Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) said: "NIAO encourage full disclosure of all interests, as indicated in the recently published good practice guide on conflicts of interest."
