A Freedom of Information request has shown an investigation into the conduct of Cllr Stephen Alambritis cost Merton council nearly £8,000.

It said the cost of the external investigator is £7,842.45. It did not say that there were any other expenses or costs related to the investigation, other than paper and photocopying costs of the meeting agenda, which totalled £18.13.

The investigation centred on whether the councillor, who is also leader of the council, breached the council's code of conduct after sending out a letter and questionnaire on council tax at the same time as an official council consultation.

Complainants said the letters encouraged residents to vote against raising council tax, and they were given the impression the outcome of the Labour-backed questionnaire would actually determine if council tax was raised.

Councillor Alambritis denied the exercise was a deliberate attempt to counterbalance positive support received for increasing council tax in the official consultation.

The report said that because the letter had used the council's business freepost service, it did breach the protocol on use of council resources but, did not constitute misconduct. The cost of the freepost service, just over a thousand pounds, was reimbursed by the Mitcham and Morden Labour Party at the time.

At a meeting of the Standards and General Purposes Committee on May 9, Cllr Alambritis made an apology for any "confusion" felt.

It was not discussed as to whether the Labour Party should repay the investigators fee.