A DISGRACED councillor kicked out of his own party for “intolerable behaviour” is being investigated again – this time over hospitality he received and extended to Chinese officials.

Lewes district councillor Robbie Robertson will appear before a standards committee for the second time in two months to answer questions about seven trips to China he took as mayor of Peacehaven and Newhaven.

Cllr Robertson is accused of arranging visits to China and hosting Chinese delegates without the proper authority of the town council.

An investigation into the allegations have criticised Cllr Robertson’s lack of cooperation and a failure to see the “seriousness of his conduct”.

The independent councillor told investigators the trips were not paid out of town council funds with the cost of plane tickets coming out of his pocket and accommodation and internal transport provided by his hosts.

Cllr Robertson is accused of visiting China in January 2016 with his own wife and a number of local politicians without the approval of the town council.

The council’s town manager only found out he was going to China on Facebook.

On his return he was asked to declare £80 of gifts but the council’s finance officer rejected his expense claim for £78.

Council officials only found out about a visit from six Chinese delegates in July 2016 five days before when Cllr Robertson was quizzed about a booking for a town council room.

The Peacehaven West councillor has been “forging links” with China after being introduced to a government representative in January 2008 and was invited to watch the Beijing Olympics by a Chinese delegate he met at a Chinese New Year event at Hove Town Hall.

Cllr Robertson was also the subject of a “fraudulent” letter dated from May 2016 – two weeks after his stint as mayor had ended.

He denies writing the letter and investigators consider it “unlikely” he personally authored the letter.

A report by investigators ch&I associates said: “Councillor Robertson’s approach to building relations with the Chinese generally has lacked the type of scrutiny and diligence proper town council involvement would have likely ensured.

“Such lack of care in my view risked bring Cllr Robertson’s office or authority into disrepute.”