AN INVESTIGATION into the way complaints by a member of the public were dealt with has been launched.

Former Bournemouth councillor Roger West had complained about the handling of his complaints about councillors and the actions of the council.

And now Graham Farrant, chief executive of the council, confirmed that an independent investigation into his concerns had been commissioned.

Director of resources, Julian Osgathorpe, has been leading the work.

Although the complaints which will be examined date back several years, Mr Farrant said he was keen not to spend too long dwelling on what happened within Bournemouth council.

He said: “As I have said a few times now, I will be ensuring that the highest standards of integrity and transparency are in place in the new BCP council.

“But I am sure that you will appreciate that I also need to ensure that we do not spend all of our time looking backwards at perceived historical failings in standards and processes in the preceding councils.”

He adds that he expects Mr Osgathorpe to be "in a position" to respond to Mr West’s allegations “shortly”.

The launch of the investigation came a month after the conclusion of a separate inquiry into a complaint against the former leader of Bournemouth council, John Beesley.

It centred on concerns about a breach of the council’s code of conduct by failing to properly declare an interest during his work as a consultant on a planning application and about his style of leadership.

A report by lawyer Mark Heath found that the complaints against Cllr Bessley by 10 of his Conservative colleagues were “unproven”.

It also comes after the Local Government Ombudsman found that information relating to a complaint into former Bournemouth council cabinet member Cllr Mike Greene from a member of the public was “withheld” from the only non-Conservative member of its standards committee.

BCP Council has since confirmed it will re-examine the complaint.

It was unable to comment further on what process the latest investigation will follow.