THE mayor of Hartlepool appears to have failed in his first attempt to be reinstated from his day job as a care manager.

Cllr Stephen Akers-Belcher was sacked earlier this year by Newcastle City Council for gross misconduct.

Since then there has been an attempt to have him removed as mayor but Cllr Akers-Belcher has insisted he has done nothing wrong and will clear his name.

He has said he was only disciplined because he expressed concerns about Newcastle council’s treatment of vulnerable adults and it was his duty to act as a whistleblower.

There have been newspaper reports that his appeal to be reinstated has been rejected by Newcastle council. That was not confirmed by either Cllr Akers-Belcher or Newcastle council.

However, it has been confirmed a date has been set for an employment tribunal for April 13 next year.

Cllr Akers-Belcher, Labour, said it was “a private matter” but added that even if it was true that he had lost the appeal “it is certainly not the end.”

Cllr Akers-Belcher was initially suspended for around two months from the post he has held for six years, before being fired on July 24. Newcastle council has not given details for the reason for the dismissal.

Cllr Jonathan Brash, an Independent, was instrumental in calling an extraordinary meeting of the council in a failed attempt to suspend the mayor from his role last month.

He said: “It would be for Stephen’s own good for him to step down while this is dealt with. A war of words between the mayor and Newcastle City Council is good for no-one.”