Third council officer suspended in probe

Cheshire East Council has suspended its chief operating officer Peter Bates as a probe into officer conduct by the authority’s disciplinary committee continues.

Bates is third top officer to be suspended in the investigation. Chief executive Mike Suarez was suspended in April and the council’s head of legal services Bill Norman was suspended in July.

The chairman of the investigation and disciplinary committee Cllr Howard Murray said of the latest suspension: “We would stress that suspension is a neutral act taken in the interests of both the council and the individual. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage.”

The council said appropriate arrangements will be put in place to ensure that the responsibilities of Bates’ role are covered.