A POLICE investigation into the business interests of Bournemouth council's leader is still ongoing after more than nine months.

In July last year Dorset Police said it was conducting a "meticulous" inquiry into the affairs of John Beesley after a complaint made by 10 of his fellow councillors was referred on by the borough's legal officer Tanya Coulter.

The force declined to provide an update on the status of its investigation, although it is still ongoing. A spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on this at this time."

Cllr Beesley has not been arrested or charged with any offence.

Detectives are understood to have interviewed a number of people both within and outside the council in pursuing the inquiry.

The force said previously: "The investigation is into alleged improper conduct relating to their obligation to disclose pecuniary interests.

"This meticulous and impartial investigation may take some time to complete, so we are unable to provide any details that may prejudice the investigation while it is ongoing."

The 10 councillors who made the complaint in writing to Ms Coulter are understood to have expressed concerns about degree to which Cllr Beesley has disclosed his business interests as a hospitality consultant.

He is self-employed as 'Hospitality Solutions'.

Their letter alleged the leader had failed to properly disclose his interests while acting on behalf of the developer behind the Belvedere Hotel planning application last year, breaching the Localism Act 2011 in the process.

Cllr Beesley has denied the allegation, stating that he has followed the advice of the council’s legal department regarding disclosure of pecuniary interests.

He has declined to comment on the inquiry so as not to “jeopardise fair consideration of the matter”.

After the allegation was made the council announced it would engage an external party to conduct a civil inquiry.

The authority has said its investigation is on hold until the criminal investigation is concluded, but there will be a formal inquiry conducted by an "external assessor", "regardless of the outcome of the police investigation".

It is not clear whether the Local Government Reorganisation plan, approved by the Government on Monday, which will see Bournemouth council dissolved next year, will affect the investigation.