ACCUSATIONS of a breach of rules against a parish council leader have been scotched.

Members of Romanby Parish Council backed their chairman, Coun John Smith, when they debated the matter on Tuesday.

He later said he hoped this would draw a line under controversy over his attendance at a joint meeting of Northallerton and Romanby councils.

That meeting was held to discuss the cost of extending Northallerton cemetery, which is run on behalf of both areas by a joint burial committee comprising four members from each council.

Coun Smith and the Northallerton mayor, Coun Tony Hall, later told the D&S Times that the work could be as much as 400pc more than initial estimates of £70,000.

Jack Dobson, immediate past vice-chairman of the joint burial committee, then described that as "bunk" and John Pelter, a former Romanby councillor and the burial committee's immediate past chairman, went on to raise questions. In a letter, he called for details of the Press report and how the possible increase could be justified.

Mr Pelter also said Coun Smith, who is a funeral director, should have had a dispensation to take part in the meeting.

"Even though he declared an interest, he took part in debate and made comments which were reported in the Press," said the letter. "I think he has breached the parish council's model code of conduct."

On Tuesday, Coun Smith left the room and Coun Linda Hudson stood in as chairman.

Coun Hall was present as a Romanby resident. He said he had been asked by all those at the joint meeting to make the question of cost public.

"The joint meeting was my idea as I believed it might help the JBC," he said. "We both had new members on board and it seemed sensible to talk things through."

He said Romanby had asked for Mr Dobson and Mr Pelter to attend as previous officials of the JBC. "My intention was to move forward, not to create a witch hunt," said Coun Hall.

Coun Smith was asked to co-chair the meeting. He declared an interest, though there were to be no resolutions made that night. Discussions about finance took place in private session.

"I am comfortable about what was later said to the Press," said Coun Hall.

Later, at a meeting of Northallerton Town Council, Mr Dobson challenged the subsequent report. "To say the cost of extensions could be 400pc more is bunk. It is untrue," he said.

On Tuesday, Coun Hall said: "I am happy to support John Smith. I do not believe he acted improperly at all."

Coun Stanley Nash said: "The meeting felt the Press should be advised that costs could rise and that people should be made aware of this possibility.

"There may be questions as to the propriety of John Smith co-chairing the meeting, but I have to say that every statement I have heard him make has been supportive of the work of the previous JBC and seeking to see their efforts taken forward in a positive way. To level blame at him is unfair."

Coun Tony Mawer said: "I appreciated the meeting being called, but I was disappointed by the animosity which emerged."

Coun Harold Bartram said: "The attendance of Mr Dobson and Mr Pelter turned out to be a bit of a waste of time as they did not provide the information we thought they might.

"But they were never accused of anything. The idea to have them there was right."

It was agreed the council would reply to Mr Pelter saying it was felt that Coun Smith had no case to answer.

Coun Smith said: "Regarding a dispensation, I did not seek one as I understood the meeting was not a formal one but more of a discussion group."

The cemetery needs extending as calculations show it has only two or three years of space left. In a previous JBC report, the cost of the work was put at about £70,000.