A BOURNEMOUTH councillor who posed as an ordinary resident to praise himself on the Daily Echo website will not face any disciplinary action.

Labour group leader Cllr Ben Grower made national headlines after he was revealed as ‘Omegaman’ – an internet poster full of admiration for himself and other Labour members.

Roy Wardle, the chair of Bournemouth council’s standards board, asked the national Standards Board of England to investigate whether there had been any breach of the council code of conduct.

But they have now advised that no further action is appropriate because Cllr Grower was not acting for the council in posting his messages.

The decision notice explains: “In writing under another name for a newspaper Councillor Grower was not conducting the business of his authority or office. The Code of Conduct applies to members when they conduct the business of their authority.

“The Code also applies when a member acts, claims to act or gives the impression of acting as a representative of their authority.

“This complaint is that Councillor Grower did not disclose his identity or office. He therefore did not claim to be acting or give the impression that he was acting as a representative of his authority.”

Cllr Grower was unavailable to comment but his colleague, Independent Cllr Ron Whittaker said he was “delighted” with the decision.

“This was a trivial matter of little importance and I was really surprised that it went as a complaint to the national standards board,” he said.

“The national standards board has made a perfectly sound decision.”

Several of Cllr Grower’s comments were about the Boscome surf reef project. Under one story about the spiralling costs he wrote: “At least two councillors seem to be concerned about this mess. Well done Cllrs Ratcliffe and Grower.”

On another about a housing plan in Kinson he wrote: “I have friends who live in the area. They say councillors Ted Taylor and Ben Grower fought hard against the proposals.”

And on one about the expansion of a dentist’s surgery he wrote: “Just shows that the area does have councillors who care about their residents. Well done Ted Taylor, Ben Grower and Beryl Baxter.”