A COUNCILLOR is facing a formal investigation over alleged mis-treatment of colleagues and members of the public.

An official complaint has been made against Wigan Council's Hindsford ward member Cllr Robert Bleakley alleging at times he has "lost control" and become angry with members of the council and the public.

The allegation will be investigated by the standards committee.

But this week Tyldesley-based Cllr Bleakley said he was "astonished" by the allegation - which he strongly denies - and had no idea that his treatment of others was being questioned.

He added that he thought he was being accused of allegedly leaking information to a journalist in April.

Leader of the Council, Lord Smith, said an informal meeting had been set-up last Friday to try and resolve the complaint but Cllr Bleakley did not attend.

Lord Smith said: "The allegation is over the way he has treated people on a number of occasions when he is alleged to have lost control. I do not know if that is true or not.

"On Friday we had hoped to resolve this complaint in an informal and amicable way without having to go through the formality of the standards committee.

"I do not know why he decided not to come. Maybe he feels he is under some kind of pressure.

"This complaint will have to go through a thorough examination."

Certain standard

He added that councillors were expected to maintain a certain standard of behaviour and he said the standards committee will investigate if Cllr Bleakley's conduct has fallen short of this.

Lord Smith said there was no political agenda and he denied any suggestion that it was a conspiracy to discredit an opposition councillor.

He said: "Under the council political management arrangements we have set up a standards committee by which the councillor's behaviour can be properly investigated. On that committee there are three non councillors who have been advertised for and chosen for their experience in this sort of thing. The committee chair is also independent."

Cllr Bleakley said he was "totally shocked" and "astonished" by the complaint.

He added that he had been told he was being accused of leaking confidential information to a journalist in April but was not aware of any complaint regarding his conduct.

He said: "I have a very good reputation in my ward. I decided not to go to the meeting on Friday after taking advice from legal people."

And he claims the allegation is part of an attempt to scupper his party's chances in a forthcoming by-election.

He said: "I would be very interested to know who leaked this story to the press. I think this is a case of leaking confidential information.

"There is more to this than meets the eye."

Cllr Bleakley said he would be also be lodging complaints.