A councillor is facing calls to resign after The Northern Echo revealed his charity failed to pay a family-run coach firm for seven months.

Teesside firm Jacks Coaches was hired by charity Grangetown Generations last summer to run five seaside day trips at a cost of almost £3,700.

But the Echo exclusively revealed today (Tuesday, March 19) how MD Paul Pearson was left trying to get his money for seven months from the charity, chaired by Redcar Labour councillor Adam Brook.

Read the story here: EXCLUSIVE | Coach firm £3.7k out of pocket for months after charity run by councillor didn't pay

Mr Pearson secured a county court judgement against the charity in February, and the debt was settled last week, despite Mr Brook saying he had never received the judgement.

The money appeared in Jacks Coaches’ account within 24 hours of the Echo contacting Mr Brook.

The Northern Echo: Paul Pearson of Jacks Coaches.Paul Pearson of Jacks Coaches. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The councillor is now facing calls to resign from his post on the council from Tory politicians while Labour has launched an internal investigation.

Wading into the row, Levelling Up Minister and Redcar MP Jacob Young wrote in an open letter to Mr Brook, saying: “We are writing today to urge you to do the right thing and resign with immediate effect.

“Your actions have been a breach of the public trust that people put in their councillors and as the cabinet member responsible for neighbourhoods, you have further brought Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council into disrepute.

“As a councillor, you subscribe to the seven principles of public life, which are: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. It is abundantly clear that your actions have fallen short of these principles, and we urge you to now do the right thing.”

The letter has been co-signed by Sir Simon Clarke, MP for Middlesbrough and East Cleveland, and Redcar Tory Cllrs Paul Salvin and Carolyn Curr.

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Mr Brook previously told the Echo he could “completely understand Paul’s anger and upset” and said, “I was under the impression that this was being dealt with appropriately, in my absence as I focused on other commitments.

“I accept and take responsibility for a breakdown of communication and accept that my oversight in this matter could have been better and I do sincerely apologise for this.”

A Labour Group spokesperson said: "An internal investigation has now been opened into Cllr Brooks' conduct on this matter. It would be inappropriate for me to elaborate whilst said investigation is ongoing."