Castle Point Council has confirmed it has resolved a complaint about councillor Norman Smith who went on holiday at the villa of a company director - months after a controversial planning application was passed.

Council officers recommended the refusal of the application for the former Tower Radio building, in London Road, Hadleigh, to be turned into flats. However councillors, including Mr Smith, of the development control committee approved it.

The application was submitted by Springfield Residential - which has Bernard Litman as its director.

A complaint was later raised about Conservative councillor Norman Smith staying in Mr Litman’s Barbados villa, but it was months after the flats plan was passed.

Mr Smith is furious with the complaint. Yesterday he told the Echo that the complaint was all about political point scoring on behalf of Canvey Independent Party councillor Dave Blackwell - and the allegation was unfair and unfounded.

He said: “My hiring the villa from Mr Litman - which he does as a business - nine months after the planning application has been heard is no different to planning permission being given to Sainsbury’s and then me buying goods from there.”

Mr Smith said that him using the holiday home was a private arrangement, and that he does not consider Mr Litman a close friend or associate.

He said he paid Mr Litman for hiring the villa - but did say in future he would leave meetings for applications relating to him.

No further action will be taken by Castle Point Council against Mr Smith.

However, Dave Blackwell, Canvey Independent Party councillor at Castle Point, said the matter should be taken seriously as it affects the public perception of the council.He said: “I think Mr Smith should seriously consider his position on the committee.”

The Echo was not able to reach Mr Litman at the time of going to press. A spokesman for Castle Point Council said the complaint had been resolved and the planning application, decided on March 15, 2016, cannot be reversed by the council.