AN INDEPENDENT investigation into a council leader’s alleged code of conduct breach has been branded a ‘whitewash’, although councillors have agreed with its findings.

On Friday, members of Bournemouth council’s standards committee said Cllr John Beesley had acted within the rules while working privately as a planning consultant.

However, they suggested the controversy around the alleged conflict of interest had made it apparent that the document needed to be reviewed.

The complaint was made by 10 councillors in April 2017 – although one, Cllr Gina Mackin, subsequently withdrew her support.

It alleged that Cllr Beesley had breached the code of conduct and the Localism Act by “not properly disclosing” his interest in Fresh Lime Developments and its Belvedere Hotel development.

Acting as a consultant through his company Hospitality Solutions and in that capacity he had taken part in meetings with council planning officers to discuss aspects of the scheme.

Police had launched their own investigation into his business activities but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

Following that decision, the council commissioned an independent report from lawyer Mark Heath into whether Cllr Beesley had breached its code of conduct.

Published last week, it found the allegations to be “unproven”.

On Friday, the four members of the council’s standards committee considered the report, finding that Cllr Beesley had not breached the code of conduct.

However, concerns were raised by Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for planning, that its scope had been too narrow.

He questioned whether any statements taken by Tony Williams, the council’s former chief executive, during his own investigation had been used by Mr Heath.

“It’s important that this committee makes sure the investigation has been thorough and complete,” he said.

“I have been mentioned two or three times in the report and have been involved in the planning application and at no point has Mr Heath approached me for evidence.

“I would suggest that you don’t accept this report – it’s not thorough and complete and is a whitewash.”

Cllr Stephen Bartlett, a member of the planning committee which had considered the Belvedere Hotel application in early 2017, said the issue had created a perception in some quarters that Bournemouth was a place where planning permission could be bought.

Despite their concerns a majority of the standards committee found that Cllr Beesley had not breached any of the code of conduct.

Its chairman, Cllr Beverley Dunlop, said intense media scrutiny on the complaint had not helped the investigation and also criticised Cllr Smith for “political grandstanding”.

She added that the process had laid bare the need for the code of conduct of the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council to be reviewed.

Independent councillor Keiron Wilson opposed the committee’s position but his view that Cllr Beesley’s actions had amounted to two rules being broken, bringing the council into disrepute and by using his position improperly, but was outvoted.

Cllr Beesley welcomed the decision, saying the investigation had taken a personal and financial toll.

“I am very pleased that the standards committee has accepted the findings of the independent inquiry that I did not breach the code of conduct and that there is no case to answer,” he said.

“Both the lengthy police investigation into alleged criminal activity and now the independent inquiry into alleged breaches of the members’ code of conduct have found that there is no credible evidence in any of the allegations made against me.

“It is now hard fact that I have been entirely vindicated, as I was always confident would be the case.”

He added that he hoped focus would now move onto work to establish the new council.