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Last Update: 2 June, 2008 9:38 AM

01 April 2009
MAYOR ROW BOILS OVER AT NEWPORT COUNCIL AGAIN

Wales News
Author: Gary Baker

NEWPORT Council's on-going row over the Mayoralty blew up again in controversial fashion at the Civic Centre on Tuesday as the air turned blue with some colourful language and accusations.

Both council leader Matthew Evans and Labour opposition leader Bob Bright made their views crystal clear over a Local Government Ombudsman's report about accusations of alleged inappropriate behavour at the Mansion House.

Those accusations were dismissed by both Newport Council managing director Chris Freegard and the Ombudsman's report.

Yet, the row, which has been bubbling along since the turn of the year following the Chartist Evening in November, will not die down.

Councillor Bright accused his opposite number of being 'pathetic' and 'despicable' for 'casting aspersions on previous Mayors' which Cllr Evans had made back in December when first bringing up the matter.

Cllr Bright blasted: "The subsequent investigation by the managing director (Mr Freegard) said there was no improper behaviour. Your behaviour was despicable and disgraceful and you caused a lot of embarrassment."

But Cllr Evans said all the squabbling should be put aside for the good of Newport. He retorted: "I'm not expecting, for one minute, that the leader of the opposition will apologise. It seems to be the way it is going at the moment.

"Basically, the Ombudsman said there is no case to answer. We should be working together for the goodness of the council."

A copy of the Ombudsman's report was recommended to be released to the media.

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