FORMER Sandwell Council deputy leader Oldbury councillor Mahboob Hussain has taken legal action concerning his forthcoming appearance before the standards committee.

The committee was due to question Cllr Hussain in August in relation to the findings of the Wragge Report which accused Cllr Hussain of wrongdoing at the council.

Jan Britton, Sandwell Council chief executive, said: “Councillor Hussain has previously applied for a judicial review relating to the Wragge (now Gowling WLG) report and the QC’s legal opinion on its findings.

“The council has now also received a pre-action protocol legal letter from Councillor Hussain’s solicitors for a judicial review application relating to the standards investigation.

“The council is taking legal advice on both matters.”

Last week reports were published ahead of a meeting of the audit committee which accused Cllr Hussain of benefiting from compulsory purchase orders in Oldbury.

He said:"Various allegations and investigations have been ongoing since 2014.

"I have been convinced for some time that the council's actions against me are purely politically motivated and are an attempt to smear my character to the media."

He added: "These investigations have come at great expense to the public purse.

"The latest cynical move to publish allegations which have not been properly investigated or put to me, reinforces this view.

"I will cooperate fully with any investigation, as I have always done, because I have done nothing wrong."