A LIBERAL Democrat councillor is expected to be exonerated of breaking a code of conduct at a hearing this week.

An investigation was launched against Malcolm Dunstone, following allegations that he bullied and harassed a resident during his work as a ward councillor in Darlington.

Darlington Borough Council's deputy monitoring officer Luke Swinhoe, who conducted the investigation, will submit his report to a committee hearing on Tuesday.

A panel, made up of one fellow councillor and two independent co-opted members, are expected to conclude that Coun Dunstone did not breach the authority's code of conduct. Recommendations will also be made regarding future training.

Martin Harrison, a resident in Neasham Covert, part of Coun Dunstone's Hurworth ward, submitted his complaint in September.

The council report showed the matter dates back to January 2007, four months before Coun Dunstone was elected onto the council.

Mr Harrison had moved into a semi-detached home in Neasham Covert, where he kept some wood and building materials at the front of his property.

Two unnamed neighbours raised their concerns with Mr Harrison before later contacting Coun Dunstone for help.

Coun Dunstone wrote to the council's enforcement officer, Neil Foreman, who in turn ensured the rubbish was cleared away.

However, in July 2008, the same residents complained to Coun Dunstone while he was delivering newsletters.

Coun Dunstone wrote on a newsletter to Mr Harrison: "Please remove the unsightly mess from the front of your house."

An exchange of phone calls and notes followed between the two parties and council officers.

In November, Coun Dunstone emailed Street Scene officers for advice. However, the report added that the the rubbish was instead removed, with James Ivil, a Street Scene team leader, admitting he had read the email "too quickly".

There was no further involvement between Coun Dunstone and Mr Harrison, who filed his complaint nearly a year later.

Mr Swinhoe's report found no evidence of bullying of harassment and no evidence of a further claim that the two neighbours were either friends of Coun Dunstone or fellow Liberal Democrat members.

The report added: "Coun Dunstone does however accept that, with hindsight, he ought not to have raised the issue with Mr Harrison but that he ought to have continued to raise it with the relevant council department as he did initially in 2007."

Coun Dunstone did not wish to comment before Tuesday's hearing.