A COUNCILLOR in Tony Blair's County Durham constituency is facing a tribunal into allegations that he broke a national code of conduct.

Bill Waters, Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet member for housing, is one of several members being invest- igated by the Standards Board for England.

The Northern Echo reported earlier this week that the board, which regulates council behaviour, has concluded its inquiries in four cases, and decided to take no action.

But the board's ethical officer has referred the complaint against Councillor Waters to the Adjudication Panel for England, which he can do if he feels there is a stronger case to answer.

The allegation is that Coun Waters "failed to treat another person with respect", but the exact details have not been released.

A panel of three members will conduct the tribunal, which will be held on Thursday, August 12, at a venue to be decided.

Coun Waters is allowed to have legal representation at the tribunal, when the panel will consider all of the evidence from both sides.

The panel will first make a decision on whether there has been a breach of the code.

If there has been a breach, the maximum sanction is disqualification for up to five years, but it could also include a suspension or partial suspension for up to a year.

Coun Waters said: "I refute all of these accusations, but it would be inappropriate of me at this time to make any further comment."

The Standards Board for England has confirmed that it is currently looking into a further nine allegations of code breaches against members of Sedgefield Borough Council.