Inquiry launched into claim of mayor's smear attempt

A preliminary council investigation has found English Democrat Mayor Peter Davies may have breached rules in the code of conduct applying to all elected members.

The case revolves around a local newspaper article last October which detailed the expenses of former civic mayor and current Lib Dem group leader on the authority Paul Coddington. He rejected any notion expenses incurred when he attended functions as Doncaster's civic dignatory during his year in office – 2008/09 – were excessive or any different to those of his predecessors.

When he checked where the information had come from he found the office of former chief executive Paul Hart had allegedly been told by Mayor Davies to obtain the details which were then forwarded to the Doncaster Free Press. Now a complaint to the council's standards committee found Mayor Davies has a case to answer on five potential breaches of the code of conduct. They include allegations his actions compromised the impartiality of council officers and his conduct brought his office or the authority into disrepute.

Mayor Davies has been told he may also fallen foul of a rule which bars elected members from using council resources "improperly for political purposes." Mayor Davies, who is facing a vote of no confidence in his leadership at a council meeting on Monday, did not respond to a request to comment.

Council monitoring officer Roger Harvey will now appoint an investigating officer to carry out an inquiry.