A SENIOR North Yorkshire councillor has refuted allegations that he has forfeited his seat by failing to sign up to a local authority's code of conduct and to declare his interests outside the administration.

Leyburn resident Bernard Borman said he was harangued in the street after Richmondshire District Council said in July last year that it had cost the authority in excess of £100,000 to investigate complaints he made over an eight-year period.

However, the former businessman has not given up highlighting what he sees as cases of bad practice and maladministration - and his latest attack is against council leader John Blackie.

Mr Borman said new elections were required for Councillor Blackie's seat in Hawes as checks made at the council offices in Richmond indicated that Coun Blackie had failed to sign the council's code of conduct within 28 days of his election victory in May.

Mr Borman also said that, although Coun Blackie has given details of his business interests outside the council chamber, they were not sufficiently detailed to satisfy local government legislation.

However, in a brief statement issued yesterday afternoon, Coun Blackie said he was within the relevant rules.

He said: "I have, within the timescales and within the Local Government Act of 2000, signed up to the code of conduct and deposited a register of interests form with the district council."

The council's solicitor, Margaret Barry, said Mr Borman's allegations may have arisen as a new form adopted by the council this year required members to sign only once - both to declare their interests and to adopt the code of conduct.

As a result, anyone looking for separate forms could be led to believe some councillors had not signed what they should.

She said: "The council believes Coun Blackie has signed the relevant forms and has given sufficient details of his interests.

"However, if Mr Borman wants to dispute that, he has the right to refer the matter to the Standards Board for England."

Last night, Mr Borman said he remained dissatisfied with the council's response and would be pursuing the matter further.