A council warning against leaking information to the press has been leaked… to the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

The paper has reported that a watchdog investigator was brought in to find out what was behind the strict edict against passing on sensitive town hall information.

Members of Bournemouth Council were issued the warning letters but one found its way to the paper. There has been no clarification on the nature of the original leak which sparked the action by chief executive David Newell.

Recent Daily Echo stories which could be behind the warning have included the revelation that the balloon operator Vistarama had owed the council £43,000.

The paper also reported claims that the developer for a Boscombe seafront scheme might have pulled out after it was shown secret information.

The latest story said: “Now a local government audit manager has been called in by Cllr Ron Whittaker to find out what the serious disclosure was that caused such a response from the borough’s top man.

“Cllr Whittaker said he had taken the step out of ‘frustration’ at being unable to get an answer to his constant queries about what specific information is alleged to have been leaked.

“He also wonders if it might be a town hall worker who is the culprit and not a councillor.”

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