CHESHIRE East Council has responded to 'erroneous public speculation' by confirming a councillor was asked to step down from two committees as a 'neutral and precautionary measure'.

Cllr Howard Murray, Conservative member for Poynton East and Pott Shrigley, relinquished his roles as chairman of the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee (IDC), as well as the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, after being asked to step down from his duties last week.

The committee investigates alleged officer misconduct at Cheshire East Council, while the panel is responsible for scrutinising the actions and decisions of the county's police and crime commissioner in public.

Cllr Murray has stepped down from his committee duties while further investigations take place.

But the authority confirmed 'the concerns do no relate to his work' on the crime panel.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: "Further to the council's media release of Wednesday April 11, regarding councillor Howard Murray's committee roles, the council wishes to provide further clarification to address erroneous public speculation on this matter.

"As previously stated, Cllr Murray has been asked to stand down from his committee duties because of concerns about actions he took while serving on the authority's IDC.

"The concerns do not relate to his work on the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.

"However, Cllr Murray has been asked to stand down from both committees as a neutral and precautionary measure to avoid any concerns of a similar nature arising in respect of any ongoing work of either of those two committees while the matter is considered further.

"We would also like to be very clear that the decision to ask Cllr Murray to stand down from his committee duties is entirely unconnected to observations/concerns he may have about the issue of making severance payments to officers who are subject to disciplinary processes.

"Finally, the council can confirm, again, that the former director of legal services resigned with immediate effect and did not receive any severance payment."

Leader of the Labour group on Cheshire East Council, Sam Corcoran, has responded.

He said: "While I am sure that the Conservative leadership of Cheshire East Council will claim that the two matters are unconnected, the timing will not inspire whistleblowers to come forward.

"The recent LGA review into the culture of the organisation found that over 200 employees say they have personally experienced bullying in the previous six months and that 'some people are so scarred by what’s happened to them or others that they remain afraid to put their head above the parapet'.

"Having seen what has happened to Cllr Murray, the bullies at Cheshire East Council will be resting assured that Conservative promises to deal with bullying are sounding very hollow."