CLR Robert Brierley has been found guilty of breaching the council code of conduct for the fourth time in as many weeks after getting involved in a car parking dispute between neighbours.

The independent ward member for Hindley Green failed to attend the hearing on Tuesday, which was the fourth of six due to be held each week until early next month against Clr Brierley.

The panel heard how a couple from Hindley Green had submitted the claim against Clr Brierley after he visited their neighbour’s house to try to resolve a parking dispute.

The complainants claimed that Clr Brierley became involved in a heated argument and was disrespectful in the way he spoke to them.

They also felt he showed bias in siding with the neighbour, who they claimed was a friend of the councillor.

The complainant said: “As a councillor, I would expect Clr Brierley to treat his constituents in a fair and professional way.

“It is his duty to represent the people, after all it is us who vote councillors in.

“Instead, I feel that he abused his position and behaved appallingly.

“After a long process, I and my family can now move on from this.”

After hearing all the evidence, the panel felt that Clr Brierley had brought his office and the council into disrepute and the majority decision was that he had breached paragraph five of the council’s code of conduct.

The decision on sanctions has been deferred until next month, once all of the cases against Clr Brierley have been heard, but local authorities no longer have the power to suspend or disqualify councillors who bully, are rude or disclose confidential information.