A FORMER councillor turned planning consultant who is facing six charges relating to his business activities will stand trial later this year.

Anthony Ramsden-Geary, of Bournemouth-based Planning Solutions, will stand trial in December at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to six counts; two of an undischarged bankrupt acting as a director, two of reusing a prohibited company name, one of a bankrupt obtaining credit and one of a bankrupt making a material omission in a statement.

Mr Ramsden-Geary’s wife Harriet is also facing charges of aiding or abetting an undischarged bankrupt to manage a company between January 27, 2004 and February 5, 2009, reusing a prohibited company name without leave of court and making an omission in a statement of company affairs.

Last month, magistrates issued a warrant for her arrest after she failed to turn up at court. The warrant was later withdrawn.

The couple, of Western Road, Poole, are friends of Bournemouth council leader Cllr John Beesley.

This relationship sparked a Standards Board investigation into allegations Cllr Beesley allowed a potential conflict of interest to arise during planning applications.

A lengthy investigation into these allegations concluded Cllr Beesley did not breach the council’s code of conduct.

Mr Ramsden-Geary is senior partner at Planning Solutions. He was a Bournemouth councillor between April 1999 and December 2003 and served as chairman of the licensing board and member of the planning board.

His political career ended when he was declared bankrupt.