A Midlothian councilor faces a second hearing over allegations of inappropriate comments in 18 months.

Bryan Pottinger was cleared by the Standards Commission of any wrongdoing after allegations that he had commented on a councillor’s underwear were dismissed for lack of evidence last summer.

It has now been revealed that a new hearing will take place into fresh allegations that he made an inappropriate comment to a junior member of council staff.

The Standards Commission said the hearing, scheduled for January, would be held to establish whether the alleged comment, if proven, amounted to a breach of the respect or harassment provisions of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.

In August last year, a Standards Commission hearing heard allegations that Pottinger had harassed an unidentified female colleague during a conversation in which he allegedly referenced her underwear.

However, he was cleared after the only witness to the conversation said he had not heard the offensive comment and the inquest ruled it was possible the complainant had “misheard” him.

The panel acknowledged that witnesses had testified that the complainant was upset after the conversation, but said the panel was unable to choose between Cllr Pottinger’s version of events and that of the complainant.

The latest allegations are understood to relate to an incident earlier this year at the council headquarters in Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith. Councilman Pottinger has not commented on the accusation.

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