Two of Colchester's leading politicians have been cleared of waging a council cover-up.

Colchester MP Bob Russell and St Anne's ward councillor Mike Hogg were at the centre of an investigation by Colchester Council's standards committee.

The committee was given a report by the council's monitoring officer about papers, some of which were circulated anonymously, containing allegations about their conduct.

It was alleged findings of an investigation by the county social services in 1996 in respect of Mr Hogg had been improperly suppressed.

But the standards committee have now cleared both the Liberal Democrat MP and St Anne's ward councillor Mr Hogg of a cover-up.

And both are now considering taking legal action to pursue the matter against those who made the allegations.

Standards committee chairman Dr John Tillett said Mr Russell acted entirely properly in asking for advice from chief executive John Cobley about whether the social services investigation should be put on a council agenda.

The committee said there was no sign of a cover-up.

The committee also found, after discussing the matter in private, that former deputy mayor Mr Hogg was innocent of an alleged cover-up.

After the meeting, father-of-four Mr Hogg said: "Its been a very difficult time for my family and I look forward to getting back to representing the residents of St Anne's without this hanging over me.

"It's Christmas and I want to get on with my life with my family. I have been pro-active in all of this.

"When I first wrote to the chief executive and town clerk asking for this matter to go before the standards committee I did not realise it would drag on that long.

"But maybe I was expecting too much."

Mr Russell said: "To this day I have not been told what allegations were made against me in this dossier."

A report about the committee's findings will now be drawn up by Mr Hooper for consideration by the full council.

By Laurence Cawley

Reporter's e-mail: laurence_cawley@thisisessex.co.uk

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