A Preston councillor is set to be the first to go before his authority’s standards committee after being accused of leaking confidential information to a local newspaper.

Coun Mick Moulding, a Lib Dem on the Labour-controlled body, strongly denies the charge but faces the prospect of being thrown off all committees.

He stands accused of passing on sensitive facts and figures to the Preston and Leyland Reporter from private sections of a meeting concerning housing benefits administration and overpayments.

He says he will refuse to co-operate with the watchdog committee, which is made up of three Labour councillors, two Conservatives, one Liberal Democrat and an independent chairman, labelling it a “kangaroo court”, but told HoldTheFrontPage his relationship with the press remained unchanged.

He said: “I’ve had a good relationship with the press over the years although not all the reports have been in my favour.

“I think I’m seen as a colourful character and that’s how I am portrayed – they always take an interest.

“I’m not denying co-operating with the papers, to help them obtain information, but the allegations are untrue.

“The real problem we face here is that more and more council business is finding itself placed in the confidential part of meetings, classed as confidential or financially sensitive.

“It will come to the point where nothing is reported on the authority’s activities unless it comes through the press office.”

The original story on overpayments was broken by Nikki Smith.

Journalist David Powles at The Reporter, sister paper to the Lancashire Evening Post, said: “Coun Moulding has always been a very good contact.

“He’s pledged to fight on until he is cleared of any wrongdoing.

“The allegations are not affecting the way we’re covering the story at all – this is all part of the job and we’ll be following it closely.”

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