A senior councillor has resigned from his cabinet post after a string of controversies that had already seen him lose two high profile roles.

Within days of resigning as deputy mayor and being replaced as Conservative whip at Swanley Town Council, Cllr Tony Searles (Con) quit as finance portfolio holder on Sevenoaks council’s cabinet.

Sevenoaks council leader Cllr Peter Fleming (Con) accepted Cllr Searles’ resignation after he raised concerns that the ongoing controversy at the town council would distract him from the job.

Cllr Fleming said: “He felt the situation that he finds himself in at Swanley council has now begun to impact on Sevenoaks council and he was concerned that it will become a distraction from what we have and are achieving.

“He particularly wished to take time to focus on clearing his name from the allegations that have been made against him. I understood the importance for Cllr Searles to take this time out from the frontline to concentrate on the issues he is dealing with. Cllr Searles assured me that he would continue to work hard for the residents he represents.

“I would stress that Sevenoaks council has not received any complaints against Cllr Searles, either from an individual or Swanley council. All the allegations are in regard to his position at Swanley council and do not relate to and are quite separate from his role as a district councillor. I cannot speak on behalf of another council, or to the actions they have chosen to take, as these are clearly matters solely for them.”

"Cllr Searles assured me that he would continue to work hard for the residents he represents" Sevenoaks council leader Cllr Peter Fleming

Fellow Tory town councillors voted unanimously to withdraw Cllr Searles from his post as whip at a meeting on October 26 after an investigation into claims of both sexual harassment and disability discrimination.

The allegations were made earlier this year and the first of them was upheld, but Cllr Searles has continued to deny both, claiming that he had been the victim of bullying. He will continue in his role as an elected councillor.

It is the latest controversy involving Cllr Searles, who rented out a converted garage at his home in Hextable for eight years without planning permission, which was finally granted in September, after he had earned up to £60,000 over the period.

Last Monday he resigned as deputy mayor of the town council, claiming that he had done so in a show of support for the mayor himself, Cllr Shanker Gaire, who had quit at a council meeting on November 3.

Cllr Gaire, the UK’s first Nepalese mayor, stepped down after claiming his colleagues’ attitude towards him had changed since the Brexit vote on June 23.

He accused fellow councillors of “disregarding and disrespecting” him and claimed he was “merely a puppet in the hands of a few who are controlling and intimidating”.

Council leader Cllr Victor Southern (Con) denied the racism allegations and threatened to take legal action. Cllr Gaire, who also quit the Conservatives to become independent, has been replaced as mayor by Cllr Laurence Ball (Con).

Cllr Searles has been replaced as deputy mayor by Cllr Leslie Dyball (Con) — both her and Cllr Ball have filled the role of mayor previously.