Bill Sharp back in after Tories hold a secret ballot

Castle Point Council’s Tory members voted to allow Bill Sharp’s return following a heated meeting, where the party’s leadership sought assurances Mr Sharp’s past misdemeanours were behind him.

Mr Sharp, 62, of Softwater Lane, Hadleigh, was suspended from the Conservative group six months ago, after the council’s standards board found him guilty of bullying the authority’s former director of environment Ian Burchill, and other offences.

The councillor, who represents St James’ ward, has always protested his innocence, and he was in no mood to change his stance after returning to the Conservative fold.

He said: “In my view, I had no guilt attached to me, and therefore I have nothing to apologise for.

“I can’t give assurances about my future behaviour, but I certainly know my way around things better, and if things needed to be sorted out I’m sure they can be done in a better way.”

Mr Sharp was re-elected by secret ballot at the meeting, which took place at the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

It was his second suspension as a councillor, as he was also suspended for eight weeks in 2009 after he was found guilty of trying to influence a planning decision.

There were question marks over whether he would return at all, following a leaked e-mail exchange between him and Tory deputy leader Jeffrey Stanley.

In the exchange, Mr Stanley claimed Mr Sharp had promised to step down as a councillor if former Independent MP Bob Spink lost his seat in May’s general election, which he did.

It is widely known there is little love lost between Mr Sharp and Dr Spink, 62, who is in a relationship with Mr Sharp’s former partner, Gail Boland.

Mr Stanley said: “Bill and I had an exchange of e-mails but that is behind us now.

“I hope the adverse publicity that followed Bill over the past two years is a thing of the past.

“I hope the group can now work together to tackle the serious financial problems all local authorities are now facing.”