Councillor to be disciplined

Montaz Ali Azad

DISCIPLINARY action is being taken against a Labour councillor whose company employed three illegal workers, it has been confirmed.

Coldhurst councillor Montaz Ali Azad (pictured), who ran Eurolinen UK Ltd in Ashton, also failed to ensure that the company correctly operated a Pay As You Earn Scheme.

He was given a civil penalty of £15,000 and banned from acting as a director or being involved in the management of a limited company for six years after an Insolvency Service and Home Office investigation.

A public question submitted last night asked how people could trust Cllr Azad.

Council leader Jean Stretton said: "The council has no powers to force Cllr Azad to stand down. A councillor is only disqualified if an offence is criminal and a sentence of more than three months is given. For that reason the Labour party is invoking its own disciplinary procedures."