A COUNCIL boss who was suspended from his post earlier this year is set to return to work after being cleared of any wrongdoing.

Steve Riley, head of waste services at Hyndburn Borough Council, was suspended from work in January following a fatal accident in 2007 involving refuse wagon driver Kevin Slattery.

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It emerged at the start of the year that Mr Slattery did not hold the correct HGV classification on his driving licence at the time of the accident which resulted in the death of 66-year-old Jean Eastwood.

An internal investigation by the council has now concluded that no further charges will be made, as Mr Riley was not the head of waste services at the time of the incident, and he will return to his post.

A council spokesman said: “Mr Riley was suspended in January to allow the police to look into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

“That investigation has been very thorough and has concluded that no further charges should be brought.

“Following the conclusion of the police investigation, the council undertook its own investigation which has determined that Mr Riley, who was not the head of service at the time of the accident and cannot reasonably be held responsible for the lapse in the drivers licence and that there is no failure on his part to take appropriate action.

“The council has rigorously reviewed its systems and procedures for driver licence checks to ensure that this does not happen again.

“It is clear from the investigations that have taken place that there is no evidence to suggest that Mr Riley acted in any way inappropriately and we are therefore pleased that he will be resuming his duties with us.”

In June 2008, Mr Slattery was cleared of driving without due care and attention over the death of Mrs Eastwood after he collided with the pensioner as he was reversing into Rishton’s Norden Court alleyway.

Mr Slattery was a qualified HGV driver but as a result of a failure to submit the five-yearly medical evidence required by the DVLA when he reached 45, the vocational part of the license lapsed.

A few months after the accident, in December 2007, Mr Slattery submitted the necessary evidence to the DVLA and his vocational classification was reinstated.”

Mr Slattery ceased to be an employee of the council in November, ahead of the information about the lapse in his license being brought to light.