The Standards Board for England is to apologise to Islington LBC chief executive, Helen Bailey over its handling of the recent inquiry into the authority.

The inquiry centred around the appointment of Ms Bailey, after it was alleged Liberal Democrat authority leader, Steve Hitchins, and four of his council colleagues, inappropriately appointed her (The MJ, 12 January 2006). Also apologising to all members involved, the board concluded that the investigation, which lasted more than three years and cost the board £675,000, should have been completed more quickly, and aspects of the investigation could have been handled ‘differently and better'.