A CHRISTCHURCH councillor has been accused by the chief executive of breaching the authority’s code of conduct.

Cllr David Jones, who represents West Highcliffe, removed himself from part of the scrutiny and policy review committee on Tuesday evening, informing members of the allegation from David McIntosh.

He told councillors prior to an agenda item on the staff survey that he was obliged by common law to disclose any matter which might affect or could be thought to affect his ability to address the issue with an open mind.

“Some members may be aware, and you, Mr Chairman, are most certainly aware, that following my questioning of the officer on this item at the meeting on September 24, the chief executive raised with the monitoring officer an allegation that in doing so I had breached the Code of Conduct.

“Needless to say this will be vigorously contested.

“However, while I am confident that I would be able to approach the matter without predetermination, it has to be admitted that members and members of the public, who are or who become aware of this, might reasonably believe that I would not be able to assess the question impartially.

“For this reason therefore I declare that I might be felt to have predetermined this issue and will therefore take no part in the discussion and will leave the room.”

Following the meeting, Cllr Jones told the Daily Echo: “I can confirm that the chief executive has sent to the monitoring officer an allegation regarding the way in which I spoke to an officer (at the September meeting).

“I felt that it was wrong that the presentation was not made either by a strategic director or by the chief executive who had presented the report previously and the committee agreed with me.

“While I accept that I asked difficult questions in a searching and probing manner, I do not feel this implied any lack of respect to the officer and I was careful to say that this was no criticism of her.”

Cllr Peter Hall, who was present at both meetings, said the complaint could make councillors wary of asking necessary but difficult questions.

“I am very surprised that he left the meeting. I feel he spoke perfectly politely but he does ask questions that needed to be answered,” he said.

Cllr Hall said the purpose of the scrutiny committee was to ask questions of officers about departments and decisions and hold people accountable.

A council spokesman said the matter is being looked into by the Monitoring Officer.