The Venray alderman for Land Affairs Jan Loonen (CDA) has given the appearance of a conflict of interest three times in a land deal with the Limburg Water Board. That appears from an integrity investigation (.pdf) by Berenschot consultancy. No evidence was found that there was an actual conflict of interest.
Nevertheless, the city council does not want to continue with him. A motion of no confidence was passed against him tonight, writes 1Limburg. Loon steps up.
The issue has been going on since 2016. Loonen then exchanged land owned by his family with the water board so that the Loobeek could meander in Limburg. In exchange for his land, he was compensated better than other landowners. He got 2.05 hectares of land back for every hectare he turned in, for others it was 1.2 hectares.
‘Well negotiated’
Loonen made the deal with deputy dijkgraaf Ger Driessen, just like Loonen a CDA member. The men knew each other well from the Provincial Council. Berenschot concludes that Loonen was not favored because he was an alderman, but that it is a result of good negotiations.
Nevertheless, the consultancy sees three cases in which the appearance has been created that there is a conflict of interest. Loonen acted as spokesperson for the family, spoke privately with Driessen in his brother’s house, without others being present, and demands were also formulated on the municipality of Venray on behalf of the family.
In doing so, Loonen has violated the code of conduct for aldermen, which states that the appearance of a conflict of interest must also be avoided.
Motion of distrust
A majority of the city council supported a motion of no confidence against Loonen. Martin Leenders of Collaboration Venray said: “The appearance of a conflict of interest not only harms the alderman, but also Venray himself. A tipsy alderman will not be believed.”
Mayor Luc Winants (CDA) also awaited a reprimand. The city council passed a motion of censure. Winants published on the matter in the local weekly newspaper Peel and Maas and said to put his hands in the fire for Loonen.
‘Political reckoning’
Loonen says that Berenschot’s report exonerates him: “Berenschot does not give a yellow card, I score a pass on all points. But the council gives me a red card.”
According to Loonen, there is a “political settlement”. The city council would have wanted to discharge Loonen before the report was published, he believes. “I can look in the mirror without shame.”
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