A FORMER parish councillor from West Devon has been banned from standing for council for five months, after a tribunal found she failed to comply with an agreed code of conduct. In the first case of its kind in West Devon, former councillor Pauline Small of Lamerton appeared before the tribunal held by The Adjudication Panel for England in Plymouth. The panel found Mrs Small had brought her office or authority into disrepute, used her position improperly and failed to declare a personal and prejudicial interest at meetings of Lamerton Parish Council, all of which were contrary to the council?s Code of Conduct. The tribunal heard Mrs Small and her husband live close to the recreation field in Lamerton, where the proposed new village hall will be built. Malcolm Gilbert, chairman of the case tribunal, said Mrs Small had ?attempted to affect issues? surrounding the proposed new village hall at Lamerton ?despite having a clear personal and prejudicial interest on a number of occasions?. ?Whilst the respondent maintains that this was not deliberate, her conduct demonstrates a consistent lack of judgement.? In written submissions to the tribunal Mrs Small said she and her husband were great supporters of recreation and sport and had no objection to the new hall in principle. She said she always put the interests of the parish first, had never opposed the hall and welcomed any venture which could benefit parishioners, particularly the young. She told the tribunal she had always sought advice about declaring an interest and had relied on advice she had been given. She said the ?whole matter? had been ?blown out of all proportion?, although she accepted she had acted in breach of Lamerton Parish Council?s code of conduct. Mrs Small resigned from Lamerton Parish Council on June 17, 2005.