A SENIOR council officer has reported a councillor to the Standards Board For England.

The chief executive of Richmondshire District Council, Harry Tabiner, has reported Catterick councillor Tony Pelton to the board.

Mr Tabiner is already considering taking legal action against Leyburn resident Bernard Borman. He said two years ago that investigations into Mr Borman's complaints had cost the district council more than £100,000 over eight years.

Now Coun Pelton has published details from Mr Borman's website in his regular newsletter, The Clarion, which is distributed to homes in his ward.

In a letter informing Coun Pelton he has been reported to the Standards Board, Mr Tabiner describes the content of Mr Borman's website as defamatory, adding he is also reporting Coun Pelton for leaking details of the council's draft Comprehensive Performance Assessment, compiled after a detailed inspection by the Audit Commission.

Yesterday, an angry Coun Pelton said the situation was "stupid".

"He certainly has not discussed anything with me or with the rest of the council and appears to be acting off his own bat," he said. "As a council member, I am among his employers and yet he is threatening me."

Mr Tabiner declined to comment further yesterday, indicating he was unable to say any more while the matter was in the hands of the Standards Board.

The problem has come to a head after Mr Borman has published details of his side of the story about his complaints costing the council £100,000 on the Internet.

Although the council's resources committee voted recently on a request for clearance to take legal action, Mr Tabiner has declined to comment on who it would be against.

Last week, Mr Borman issued a statement indicating he believed he was facing being sued for defamation by Mr Tabiner and the district council's solicitor Margaret Barry as a result of the content of his website.

A defiant Mr Borman has insisted he intends to contest any action taken against him.

A spokeswoman for the Standards Board said yesterday that no investigation had begun into any allegations against Coun Pelton, although she said that does not mean he has not been reported.