Former leader of Harborough District Council reinstated to the ruling Conservative councillors’ group after he was suspended for six months

The former leader of Harborough District Council has been reinstated to the ruling Conservative councillors’ group after he was suspended for six months.

Cllr Neil Bannister said he was “relieved and delighted” after winning his appeal to overturn the ban imposed in late August.

The extraordinary move to suspend the senior Harborough councillor was taken after he allegedly tried to intervene in the massive new 2,750-home Lutterworth East housing scheme.

But the Conservative party’s Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area management executive said: "The appeal by Neil Bannister has after very careful consideration of the rules been upheld and Councillor Bannister has been reinstated into the Conservative Group on Harborough District Council."

Neil, who led Harborough council from October 2017 to May 2019 and represents Dunton ward, told the Harborough Mail: “I am absolutely delighted to be reinstated to the Conservative councillors’ group and that my appeal was successful.

“I did not doubt that justice would prevail.

“But you do never know.”

He added: “My overwhelming emotion is one of relief.

“It’s been a difficult time for me over the last few weeks and a very stressful time.

“I just want to draw a line under this issue now and go back to working with the Conservative group.”

Neil, who lives in Lutterworth, said he had been overwhelmed by the constant support he had received since he was suspended.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all those people who have sent me heartwarming messages of best wishes and goodwill.

“Their support has really helped to sustain me in a time of real adversity,” said the experienced local politician.

“I have really appreciated the backing of fellow councillors and fellow Conservatives as well as from other people who know me too.

“The appeal itself was held on September 25 so I have known the result for some time.

“I am just glad that this is out there now because it’s entirely right that the outcome should be known and shared.

“I am now looking forward to going back to work positively and constructively with my Conservative councillor colleagues in Harborough,” insisted Neil.

“I hope and trust that my return to the group will be as seamless as possible.

“I’ll be putting my best foot forward – it’s full steam ahead for me now.”

Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough council, told the Mail: “I don’t have any comment to make about this.”

Neil was suspended after he fired off an “urgent” email to Cllr Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, and chief executive John Sinnott on Thursday July 30.

Neil told them he had “strong reservations” about the controversial giant ‘Lutterworth East Strategic Development Area’.

Writing in his key role as chairman of South Leicestershire Conservative Association, he voiced his doubts just two days after he voted to back the under-fire billion pound blueprint.

Neil’s vote was crucial as the vast 550-acre housing, environmental and commercial initiative by the M1 was squeezed through by Harborough council’s planning committee by just five votes to four.

But just 48 hours later Cllr Bannister told county council leader Cllr Rushton and Mr Sinnott that he had worries about three key areas in the high-profile masterplan:

- The Spine Road

- Nationally significant high voltage electricity transmission system

- Warehousing.