A proposal to reimburse the councillors and chief executive involved in the controversial Standards Board investigation into Islington LBC will be recommended to the council's executive this week.

In January, five Liberal Democrat Islington councillors were cleared of allegations they had breached the local government code of conduct in connection with the appointment of chief executive, Helen Bailey, who also became embroiled in the tribunal. The councillors incurred legal costs totalling £350,400 and Ms Bailey – a former senior Lib Dem activist – was presented with a legal bill of £134,000. All have started repaying the costs. The Islington case was the longest-running in the history of the Standards Board for England and the most expensive.