Wragge Report: Former Sandwell Council deputy leader Mahboob Hussain to appear before council standards committee

The Wragge Report revealed alleged council code of conduct breaches by Mahboob Hussain. Mr Hussain, who has always denied any wrongdoing, is now expected to appear before the council's standards committee later this month, leader Steve Eling has said.

Councillor Eling also revealed that Councillor Ian Jones will appear at the audit committee on August 18. Councillor Jones was investigated for his role in the sale of three public toilet blocks, although the report said he had no case to answer.

A date for Mr Hussain's appearance has yet to be confirmed.

Councillor Eling said: "I have been told Mr Hussain will be before the standards committee later this month and Ian Jones will be in front of audit on August 18.

"The Wragge Report and QC's report said Mr Hussain should be referred to the council's standards committee, so that's what we've done. People in the community can have confidence in the council."

The news comes as the council confirmed the departure of an officer who was criticised in the report. Neeraj Sharma, director of governance and monitoring officer, left the authority at the end of July.

In the report Ms Sharma was criticised for 'failing to secure adequate reporting of concerns from directors or service managers to her in her role as monitoring officer'. Bosses have also revealed that former council employee Azeem Hafeez, the son of Mr Hussain, is no longer working at the authority.

The Wragge Report plunged Sandwell Council into turmoil when it was published in May. It found that Mr Hussain had signed off on land sales at undervalue as part of a series of council code of conduct breaches.

The report said Mr Hussain was 'likely' to have passed on confidential information about the sale of two plots of land to his son, Mr Hafeez, who worked for the council at the time. Melanie Dudley, assistant chief executive, did not confirm whether Mr Hafeez had been sacked by the authority.

"We do not comment on disciplinary action in regard to individual employees. We can confirm that Azeem Hafeez is not employed by Sandwell Council," she said.