BLAENAU Gwent council leader Des Hillman is being reported to a council watchdog over claims he misled councillors that a senior officer had a heart attack, resulting in a six figure pay-off.

Cllr Hillman, who last week survived a vote of no confidence in a heated council meeting where he was branded a liar and inept leader by Labour leader Hedley McCarthy and his deputy, Steve Thomas.

Now he is being reported for telling councillors former corporate director for governance John Pearce suffered a heart attack, resulting in a £300,500 redundancy package.

This was later proved to be false and Cllrs McCarthy and Thomas said this influenced councillors' decision to back the redundancy package.

The two are now reporting the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman, claiming Cllr Hillman's actions breached the councillors' code of conduct.

This follows a Wales Audit Office report, which included Cllr Hillman and council chief executive Robin Morrison, said the decision did not make financial sense and there were "significant flaws" in how the issue was handled.

Had Mr Pearce been offered early retirement of between £144,000 and £167,000, it could have saved more than £100,000, the report added.

The report found the decision to go through with the redundancy was lawful and Cllr Hillman said recommendations made by the auditor in the report were not statutory, but the council is looking to address them.

Cllr McCarthy said; "We've always felt there were serious breaches of the code of conduct, including misleading the council. He didn't even say sorry I misled you, it's quite incredible behaviour - arrogant beyond belief."

Cllr Hillman said he never meant to mislead or deceive anyone, adding the decision reached by the auditor showed the rules had been followed, and said the council had not taken any information into account it shouldn't have when it made its decision.

In the council's response to the report, prepared by Mr Morrison, it welcomed the fact the auditor found the decision to approve the voluntary redundancy was both reasonable and lawful.

It takes issue with the point that the business case for redundancy was handled poorly, claiming the evidence in the report contradicts that.

Cllr Hillman added: "It was found to be legal and reasonable and a decision a responsible authority would have taken - I will be considering my options also."