BY IAN ROSS

COUNCILLORS are to attend a special meeting to discuss a report into allegations against their leader and her husband.

Linda and Malcolm Short face allegations that they breached national codes of conduct for members.

The allegations are being looked at by the Cheshire Fraud Squad and a solicitor heading an independent investigation launched by the council.

Mrs Short is leader of the council, and her husband is a fellow borough councillor.

Neither have been suspended or agreed to stand down.

Solicitor Michael Ellison carried out the council investigation on its behalf, and is understood to have completed his report.

Council managing director Peter Cooper is expecting to receive the report this week.

It will initially be available to the Standards Committee, which will meet on December 11 to consider its findings.

Mr Cooper has agreed with the borough mayor that the council meeting scheduled for December 14 will become a special meeting to consider the report and recommendations from the committee.

The documentation for the meeting is to be hand delivered to all members of the council.

Solicitor David Sayer, who was deputy coroner for Cheshire, has been appointed as co-opted chairman of the Standards Committee.