A LEADING councillor is to be excluded from taking part in a major management shake-up in a North Yorkshire local authority, following a complaint against him from a senior official.

The full meeting of Ryedale District Council heard that Coun Keith Knaggs, the chairman of its policy and resources committee, would not appeal against official censure over his conduct towards the officer.

Coun Knaggs has apologised over "inappropriate" remarks made to the unnamed officer at an official function in July.

The full council agreed to censure Coun Knaggs on the grounds that "his standards fell short of the highest standards expected of councillors under the National Code of Government Conduct".

Coun Knaggs apologised in writing to the officer on August 28. Coun Gary Hobbs, chairman of the standards committee, thanked Coun Knaggs for his "co-operation" which allowed the matter to be dealt with "without delay".

The full council also resolved to exclude Coun Knaggs from the appointment of officers to the council's senior management structure.

The recommendations were made after an investigation by independent solicitor Judith Barnes into a grievance lodged against Coun Knaggs by the officer involved.

Updated: 11:18 Saturday, September 08, 2001