A council boss has been suspended amid allegations she bullied staff, it was revealed today.

Councillors voted to suspend Eastbourne Council chief executive Sari Conway at a council meeting held behind closed doors last night. The meeting was held to discuss accusations from staff, including senior managers, that she harassed them. She has been given leave on full pay pending an inquiry into the allegations.

The cabinet met at 5pm followed by a meeting of the full council, which agreed to put the suspension in place. Councillors and officers are remaining tight-lipped about the details of the allegations but did confirm her suspension.

Mrs Conway became the council's first woman chief executive in 1995 and appeared on the BBC Changing Room series last year. She swapped homes with the owner of the Belle Tout lighthouse, Coun Mark Roberts.

A joint statement by council leader Bert Leggett and leader of the Conservative opposition said: "The members of Eastbourne Borough Council have taken the decision to suspend Sari Conway on full pay pending an inquiry. "Since this clearly is a matter concerning a council employee there will be no further comment from any councillor or officer."

But a council source said the action has been taken after "serious allegations of bullying" were made against Mrs Conway by staff. The source said: "If you ask anyone at the council, they will give you an anecdote of bullying. We thought it was a witchhunt at first but the extent of the allegations has taken my breath away. A major concern is complaints made by senior officers. Two members of senior staff with many years' experience were reported to have been reduced to tears.

"We are looking closely at her man-management skills. Clearly, to treat staff with disrespect is a serious allegation. Depending on the findings, one thing that may be recommended may be some form of counselling in man-management."

The source said: "She has achieved a great deal. She has done a marvellous job putting Eastbourne on the map. But these allegations must be looked at."

Mrs Conway, who lives with her husband Vince in Eastbourne, refused to comment.

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