A COUNCILLOR who was banned from asking a question at full council last month has called on the council solicitor to be suspended while an investigation gets under way.

Clr Kevin Bennett made a complaint to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) about the professional conduct of Tim Date after his question about living wages was dropped.

The Fairfield and Howley councillor stormed out of the meeting on Monday, october 21 after only being informed an hour before that his question had been struck off the list.

Now he has been informed the SRA are investigating the incident.

Clr Bennett said: “I have called on the chief executive to suspend the council solicitor while this investigation is underway.

“Mr Date’s duty is to protect the constitutional rights of all elected members. He has not only chosen to ignore that duty, but has conspired with a senior member of this council’s leadership to prevent the people of Fairfield and Howley from having their voices heard.

“There is slow progress of the council’s internal investigation and members are still waiting for the chief executive to take decisive action on this matter. Councillors and officers involve now face the prospect of being called to give formal evidence under oath.

“Add the considerable damage to this council’s reputation, and the fact that it’s no longer possible for any councillors to have trust or confidence in Tim Date, the selfish few have ensured Warrington has paid a high price for their attempts to stifle democracy.”

But a council spokesman said: "The Solicitors Regulation Authority have not contacted the council with regard to any complaint about this matter.”

Clr Bennett was suspended from the Warrington Labour Party earlier this year after voting against his own party’s budget proposals.

At the time he also claimed he was being ‘bullied’ by some people in the party.

Following his complaint to the SRA Clr Bennett added he would be referring the issue to the Local Government Ombudsman.