AN independent investigation is to be carried out into four formal complaints concerning the conduct of Bournemouth’s council leader.

Conservative councillor Stephen MacLoughlin had hoped to draw a line under his computer porn shame after receiving a vote of confidence from his cabinet colleagues and making a public apology in the Daily Echo.

But following a meeting last Friday an assessment sub-committee of the Standards Committee has decided that four separate complaints made against him warrant investigation.

Independent Cllr David Shaw, who was expelled from the Conservative group earlier this year, is among those who have complained following the discovery of pornographic material on Cllr MacLoughlin’s council-owned laptop.

Cllr Shaw alleges that the council leader has “shown a lack of respect to his colleagues and the council”.

Three members of the public have also complained including Boscombe resident Nigel Gillespie, who claims that Cllr MacLoughlin has “brought his office as councillor and the council into disrepute”.

Complaints have also been submitted by Peter Lucas and Alan Coldicott.

After considering the complaints, the assessment sub-committee decided that the allegations be referred to the deputy monitoring officer “to arrange an investigation and prepare a report to the Standards Committee”.

The four people who have complained and Cllr MacLoughlin will be sent decision notices detailing the potential breaches of the council’s Code of Conduct.

After apologising in the Daily Echo, Cllr MacLoughlin said he was “looking forward to moving on and getting on with the job of running the council and considering a whole range of important issues which we need to address in the months ahead”.

An independent external investigator, to be appointed by the council to oversee the investigation, is likely to have a legal background and may be or have been employed by another local authority.

The investigator’s report will go before the standards committee.

Sanctions include a warning, restricted access to the Town Hall as well as partial or full suspension for up to six months.

Opposition leaders are still furious with the way the entire incident has been handled, stating it should have gone straight to the Standards Board instead of being investigated earlier this year by the council’s chief executive Pam Donnellan and service director for law and governance Joy Postings.

The “top shelf” adult material was found during a routine service on a council computer Cllr MacLoughlin had used.