A Swanley town councillor has been stripped of his duties as whip following allegations of sexual harassment.

The town council voted unanimously to withdraw Cllr Tony Searles from the post after its select committee upheld two separate allegations made by a female employee in April this year.

In total, two allegations were brought forward against Cllr Searles including sexual harassment, which the select committee upheld, and disability discrimination, which the committee rejected.

The council itself was found to have breached its own duty of care in the months following the employee's claims but two other allegations, including a breach of confidentiality, were squashed.

The Conservative Councillors Group met on October 26 and agreed to withdraw Cllr Searles’ responsibilities indefinitely following the committee's findings.

The council employed a human rights resources organisation to investigate claims made by the victim and brought their findings to the committee.

The leader of the council, Victor Southern, said: “The council could have done a bit better having heard the initial complaint over the interim period of a month.

“But the problem was we didn’t know what to do because we called an independent investigator.”

He added: “The decision was made mainly on the effect that certain allegations made against Cllr Searles have had on the council as to cost and also efficiency of administration.

“This means that he will not sit with us in council and will not be entitled to attend the regular discussions on policy and information briefings of the group.”

Cllr Searles will still be able to attend council meetings and will continue his duties as an elected councillor.

He is also the Portfolio Holder for Finance at Sevenoaks District Council.

A spokesman for Sevenoaks said: “We have not received a complaint about this matter and therefore we have not carried out an investigation.

“We would stress this is a matter for Swanley Town Council.”

Cllr Searles was unavailable for comment but a representative from the Whitehead-Monckton law firm told News Shopper: “Our client denied and denies, all allegations made against him which he views as without any basis whatsoever.

“Our client considers that he has been the victim of bullying in this whole affair.”