AN AUDIT and standards boss is facing six complaints of misconduct.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Daniel Yates identified himself on Tuesday as the person at the centre of the complaints.

Speaking at a meeting of the audit and standards committee, which he chairs, the former council leader said: “I’m the member referred to in complaints W, X, Y, Z, A and B.

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“Having discussed it with legal, because it’s only a personal interest, because there is going to be no decision to be taken on the item, I will be remaining in the chair but I won’t be voting and I won’t be entering into the discussion of the agenda item either.”

It is understood some of the complaints relate to comments made on Twitter.

In July, the city council went Green after a week of shock Labour resignations and suspensions amid anti-Semitism accusations.

The Argus:

Councillor Nichole Brennan quit the party just hours after another Brighton and Hove City Labour councillor, Kate Knight, resigned over the sharing of alleged anti-Semitic posts.

Their departure came less than a week after the Labour administration was rocked by the suspension of one of its leading councillors, Anne Pissaridou, over the sharing of allegedly anti-Semitic material on social media.

Responding to a Twitter comment at the time, Labour Cllr Yates tweeted: “Well if three dumb councillors hadn’t said or done offensively dumb and discriminatory things and then two of them run away.”

Another complaint is understood to relate to a comment made to Brighton and Hove News. In an article about the suspension of Labour members in the city, he said: “I’m connected to the mains sewerage.

“Under new management, Keir is pressure washing away the detritus.”

Greg Hadfield, one of the suspended members identified in that story, is understood to be one of the complainants.

Four other complaints have also been lodged.

A city council report states: “Complaints C and D concern a complaint by one member about the conduct of another group of members and a complaint then made by one of that group.

“Finally, Complaint E and Complaint F are unrelated but both concern comments made by one elect member about another member.”

It has been requested that an annual review of complaints against members be carried out.

The report adds: “This will be provided to the January 2021 meeting and will review the number of complaints received in during 2020 as well as any identifiable trends.”

The complaints will be heard at a meeting at a later date if they cannot be resolved informally.