MOST of Bournemouth’s councillors are well behaved, according to a report.

The council’s Standards Committee has published its annual report covering the past year, which saw two high-profile cases involving both former leader of the council, Stephen MacLoughlin, and deputy leader, Cllr John Beesley.

Both faced protracted investigations – Mr MacLoughlin over his use of a council laptop to access pornography and Cllr Beesley over planning applications.

Both were eventually cleared of any breach of the code of conduct.

As the annual report is published, the independent chairman of the committee, Roy Wardle, has moved to restore faith in the 54 people who run the town.

He said: “Over the last year I have been concerned that the perception of the standard of councillors’ conduct has been unduly influenced by the extensive press coverage and public debate related to two senior councillors.

“After an unacceptably lengthy and costly process involving legal representation and hearings of the evidence in public, both councillors were cleared of breaching the code of conduct.

“I wish to make clear that during the year the standard of councillors’ conduct and compliance with the council’s code of conduct in general has remained high. Most of Bournemouth’s 54 councillors have never been the subject of a misconduct complaint.

“Where complaints have been received most did not merit investigation. Instead issues arising have been dealt with more appropriately in other ways such as by giving feedback, advice and guidance to councillors.”

Mr Wardle also questioned how standards would be maintained if the government abolished the code of conduct and standards committees through its Localism Bill.

He said the committee would be looking at ways forward, including the possibility of the council introducing its own code of conduct, later this year.