A COMMITTEE set up to ensure that councillors adhere to a code of conduct closed its doors to discuss whether disciplinary action would be taken against a member of the authority.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's newly-established Standards Committee wants to be "whiter than white" when it comes to the behaviour of members elected to serve their communities.

But at a meeting on Monday, councillors decided that discussions about individual councillors who may face disciplinary measures would be discussed behind closed doors and the public will only be informed if action is to be taken against that person.

The decision was put into practice when councillors held a discussion in private about possible action against Coun Ken Seymour. Coun Seymour, who was elected to serve the St Germain's ward, was evicted from his council house earlier this month for non-payment of rent.

The cross party members of the committee were all in favour of the decision, with the exception of East Cleveland Independent member Coun Dave Fitzpatrick.

He said: "Justice has to be seen to be done and we did make a basic principle that we have to be seen to be whiter than white. It puts this in danger by excluding people."

But Coun Eric Empson said disciplinary matters were bound by confidentiality rules.

The committee met to discuss the development of a protocol for a code of conduct for councillors. It developed a dress code for councillors, which states they must be clean, neat and tidy and a protocol on how councillors are to address each other and officials at formal meetings and site visits.

A spokesman said later that the council's Standards Committee is "still investigating" whether Coun Seymour will face disciplinary measures.