THE leader of Bournemouth council has been investigated after “top shelf” adult material was found on a council laptop.

The material was discovered during a routine service on a computer Stephen MacLoughlin used.

An investigation was undertaken by council chief executive, Pam Donnellan and service director for law and governance, Joy Postings.

Cllr MacLoughlin confirmed the computer had been used to access an unauthorised website and assured the council its internet policy would be complied with in future, said a council spokesman.

The spokesman added: “Further to an enquiry from the Echo, Bournemouth council confirms there was a full investigation into material found by the council’s IT department on a laptop computer used by Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin.

“The limited amount of ‘top shelf’ adult material, which was found during a routine service in December 2008, contravened the council’s Internet Policy. Councillor MacLoughlin fully co-operated with the investigation which was undertaken by the council’s chief executive, Pam Donnellan, and the service director for law and governance, Joy Postings.

“Councillor MacLoughlin confirmed that the computer had been used to access a website which was not related to the business of the council. This occurred outside normal council office hours and not on council premises.

“The investigation earlier this year was satisfactorily concluded with Councillor MacLoughlin’s confirmation that the council’s Internet Policy would be complied with in future.”

Speaking last night the council’s deputy leader, Cllr John Beesley, said that Cllr MacLoughlin did not want to add anything further to the council’s statement.

•In March, 20 Bournemouth council staff were put on fully paid “management leave” following complaints about allegedly offensive emails. Most of the 20 were kept off for between a week or two weeks at the end of February and the beginning of March. The longest individual spell spanned 16 days from February 23 to March 10.

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