A former mayor suspended by her party has been cleared of alleged improper conduct.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Anne Meadows was suspended by Labour last month after an investigation was launched into her conduct.

The Argus understands the issue focused on a set of £500 speakers gifted to her while performing official duties as the city’s civil figurehead during 2011/12.

But, after council lawyers failed to find enough evidence to investigate fur- ther, Coun Meadows has now been told that she has been cleared.

Coun Meadows said: “I have been told there is no case to answer to. I have to wait for the Labour Party investigation – God knows how long that will take.

“It’s been a horrible few weeks. “It feels like one thing after another and it’s getting very personal about me rather than answering the query.”

It is understood that the issue revolves around an iPod docking system and speakers given to Coun Meadows by the Bang and Olufsen store in Church Road, Hove. The Beolit 12 Sound Dock has a retail price of about £500.

A list of donations and gifts declared to the mayor’s office, released to The Argus under a Freedom of Information request, show it was registered.

Sources have said the item was not received by the mayor’s office.

Coun Meadows, who has been a councillor for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean since 1994, denied any wrongdoing.

In the last few weeks, with the investigation ongoing, Coun Meadows was told that she was not allowed to carry out any duties as the city’s current deputy mayor.

Geoff Wells, the city’s mayor in 2010/11, attended events in her place.

The Argus asked the local authority if any money or donation had been paid, which led to the dropping of the case.

The council said that it did not need to answer this.

Penny Thompson, the council’s chief executive, said: “The informal investigation into the circumstances surrounding a gift to the mayor’s charities has concluded.

“There will be no formal action such as a standards investigation or referral to the police.

“The informal service investigation was undertaken by the council’s legal team and reviewed by inter- nal audit before it concluded.”